Graham

As mentioned a couple of pages back already, much better. Graham

They should really change the name of that convention. Sounds like it's a gathering for......ahem, how can I saw it politely, those with a fetish for the backdoor exploration. Graham

If Yamato did decide to release an all new perfect variable 1/60 scale VF-1 toy, I'd like to see it come with the following improvements over the 1/48 VF-1 and the older 1/60 VF-1 toy: - Rotating cockpit seat ala 1/60 VF-0 toys. No more removeable nose cone and moving flaps (damn things are a pain in the ass IMO). Better non-splitting engine detail inside the foot thrusters, like on the 1/60 VF-0. A better sculpted GU-11 gunpod. I find the one on the 1/48 to be too thin and tapered. Rear landing gear which can angle out when opened, like on the 1/60 VF-0 & 1/60 YF-19. The VF-1A Cannon Fodder variation to be released with swapable DYRL and TV style heads. Better detail on the foot thrusters at the back of the ankle. Even the 1/48 just has these as two painted red circles. The 1/48 GBP actually has these as molded on detail which is great. Designed from the start so that two-seaters are possible. A transformation system like the VF-0, with folding panels around the head in fighter mode, to reduce the length of the nose in fighter mode. A HUD in The TV versions. Painted missiles, like on the 1/60 VF-0. More as I think of them Graham

Hayao is correct: - 1) Yes, the biceps do have a new screw added. 2) Yes, the feet do now have a locking mechanism. 3) Yes, the two folding covers that sit around the front of the head in fighter mode have been resculpted, so they fit closer to the head. The VF-0A is a very good toy. Lets hope the VF-0S gets a reissue with all these improvements. Added stickers to mine and it looks great. I chose the bunnies for the tail fins. Maybe I'm imagining things, but it even seems the quality of the Yamato stickers is getting better, with little to no border. And I really love the color scheme the more I look at it. Graham

I need to sit down and do a side by side comparison of the VF-0A & VF-0S later tonight, but just from my short time with the VF-0A, get the impression that the feet are somewhat stiffer. Graham

Saw this in the shop where I bought my VF-0A yesterday. Think it was HK$438 (US$56) IIRC. No plans to buy it myself. Graham

Hey Sebastian, what's that gay toy infront of your VF-0A? Mwahahahaha! Graham

Heh, just got mine. Paid HK$850 for it, which is about US$113.40. As Sebastian mentioned, 99% of the bugs have been work out of the toy. The improvements are as follows: - The bicep swivel joints are now nice and tight. The above knee swivel joints are nice and tight. The backpack hinge is more secure. The backpack now sits flush against the back in battroid mode, unlike the VF-0S, where it often hangs a couple of milimeters away. Gunpod attaches easily and securely to the arms. The only minor niggle I have really is that the slider for the backpack triple thrusters is still loose and you can't lock the thrusters firmly in the down position. I transformed the toy straight to battroid, as I wanted to check the swivel joints, so haven't yet checked if the legs stay locked to the backpack better in fighter mode. Will do that later. Unlike the pre-production photos, there is no white on the production toy. It's all three shades of grey. strangely though the stripes on the wings are black, whereas the stripes on the forearms are dark grey. Oh, the head laser is really long on this toy, so getting the head through the backpack hatch can be a bit tricky during transformation, but it's just a case of finding the right angle of entry (that's what my wife says as well) Here's a pic comparing the the pilots from the VF-0S and VF-0A. And also a scan of the sticker sheet. Also a pic of the VF-0A with the VF-0S. Sorry for the poor pic quality, but it's taken indoors at night. Definitely recommend this toy. Graham

While I like the version they have released, I'd also like to see the OVA Shin & Cannon-Fodder versions released, with tampo printed tail fin markins on the cannon fodder, say 50% of the production run with rabbit markings and 50% with skull markings. Graham

From what I was told, depspite the fact that it completely contradicts both the anime and Hasegawa, the view of the HRH is that there is only one VF-0A color scheme, there is not supposed to be a separate Shin Type & Cannon Fodder type. Graham

Thanks David. Graham

I'm glad they changed the dorsal fuel tanks to grey, instead of the white on the pre-production pics. I won't get mine until next Tuesday, but I'm dying to know what color the pilot helmet is and also to have a look at the sticker sheet. Graham

They were probably mugging people, so they could get money to pay for all the new Yamato Macross releases. Graham

Anybody know a way to grab Flash images? I want to get the CG pics of the Fighter, Battroid & Gerwalk modes of the VF-0D Shin Type, VF-0D Normal Type & VF-0A from the gallery section of the official Big West Macross Zero site. I've tried a couple of types of free software, that are suppoosed to let you save and extract Flash images, but they haven't really worked. Graham

It's definitely out in Japan, as box pics are now showing up on Yahoo Japan auctions. Graham

You guys really need to get out more. Graham

Anybody who thinks Gundams are cool looking and Battroids fuggly needs their eyesight checking and/or some serious time in therapy. Everybody who has any taste knows that it is in fact Gundams that are extremely fugly and Battroids that are cool looking. Graham

Supposed to be today! Graham

From what I understand, the VF-11B/C airframe is not stressed to take a fold booster. Graham

VF-0A is scheduled for September 25th, which means today! I forget what the Kakizaki release date is. Graham

To me, it looks like an inpainted resin sculpt, or one just painted with primer. I haven't asked, but I hope it's not the color they have chosen. Graham

There's a definite and firm click from the middle when I change the thruster position on the woodland GBP, that I don't get on my blue GBP. Graham

I've asked Yamato about landing gear on the Ghost Booster, but I'm still waiting for a reply. Graham

The 1/60 YF-19 was designed from the begining to be Fold Booster Compatible. Graham

Took the woodland camo GBP armor out of the box last night. Very happy with it. Haven't had time to take apart the chest yet to see if any improvements were made. The attention to detail continues to amaze me. I love the way that even the inside of the armour has panel lines. One change I noticed compared with my standard GPB, is that the backpack thrusters now have a distinct click, when moving the thruster nozzels between the two positions. Graham