Graham

I'll get the scan from Hobby Japan up tonight also. Graham

Wing connections were very strong on the 1/72. The only breakages I ever saw or heard about on the 1/72 YF-19, were: - 1) snapped knees, due to how thin the plastic knee was (solved on the VF-19A when they went to a full knee). This is caused during transformation from fighter to battroid if too much force is used to pull the lower legs away from the arms. 2) Infamous 'Tab-B' on ver. 1 YF-19 (Solved on ver. 2 and VF-19A with redesigned stronger tab). 3) Broken blue plastic hip joint on one of my YF-19 ver.2. The blue plastic hip joint bar had sheared in two, where it joins to the intake section. Only heard of this happening once and don't understand how it happened, as that YF-19 had been sitting in a box for 5 years in my closet! Graham

OK guys, here's the scan of the CAD lineart of the upcoming Hasegawa 1/72 scale Reactive Armor for the VF-0S, from the new September 2006 issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine! The VF-0A battroid shown at the bottom of the page should be Wave's upcoming 1/100 scale VF-0A battroid, the second kit in their Macross Zero line. Click to enlarge Graham

Guys, Sorry for the delay. Just had to feck around for an hour reinstalling the driver for my bleeping antique scanner! Anyway, below are the scans of the fighter mode of the upcoming 1/60 YF-19, as featured in the new September 2006 issues of Hobby Japan & Dengeki Hobby magazines. A few points of note: - 1) The cover behind the neck looks like it's been incorrectly painted grey, instead of black. 2) AFAIK, these pics are of the early painted resin sculpt. Please bear in mind that the actual ABS & die-cast metal test shots from the actual molds may look a little different. 3) Note the correctly located and correct length front landing gear. Anyway, enjoy.......................... Hobby Japan (click to enlarge) Dengeki Hobby (click to enlarge) I'll get better scans up in the magazine section and toy section at the weekend. Graham

Guys, The new September 06 issues of Hobby Japan and Dengeki Hobby have CAD lineart of the upcoming 1/72 Reactive Armour kit by Hasegawa, for the VF-0S battroid. I'll get the pics scanned and posted tonight when I get home. Not sure if the kit will include the battroid or will be armor only. Graham

Thew new September 06 issues of Hobby Japan & Dengeki Hobby magazines, just out have pics of the painted YF-19 in fighter mode. Looks sweet. I'll get them scanned and posted when I get home tonight. Graham

I know, I pointed them to the pics on the Big West site and the Bandai Visual Zero site, sent screen grabs from the anime and scans of Tenjin's box art and Hasegawa paint guides to make my case. From what I understand, anime accurate samples were shown to HFH for approval, but he nixed the idea and told them to use his color scheme. Graham

Oh and the VF-0A will have the improved tighter bicep and knee swivel joints and an improved tighter backpack hinge. Note, the photos shown so far don't have the Tampo printing. The production version will of course have Tampo printed markings. I know what the tail markings are going to be, but not sure If I'm supposed to say yet. Graham

As some of you have already noticed, the paint scheme on the Yamato VF-0A is not accurate to either the anime Cannon Fodder VF-0A colors, or Shin's VF-0A from episode # 5. Here's were we start moving into Twilight Zone territory. According to the Hory Froating Head (HFH), who gets final approval: - 1) The VF-0A colors shown in the anime are not correct. 2) There is actually only one type of VF-0A color scheme, (not 2 separate color schmes for Shin & Cannon Fodder). 3) The colors on the Yamato VF-0A are the official HFH approved colors. Personally, I think HFH has been smoking too many funny cigarettes recently! I've been discussing the VF-0A paint scheme issue with Yamato for months to try to get them to change to anime-accurate schemes and while they are aware of the colors shown in the OVA, the HFH's word must unfortunately be followed to the letter. I like the scheme that Yamato is using for the VF-0A and will definitely buy it, but I also want versions in correct anime colours. I guess if anybody wants truly accurate Cannon Fodder or Shin's versions, it's going to be up to the customisers. Graham

Sailor Moon Valkyrie!!!!!! Graham

Not me, not wth having a mortgage to pay off, plus the high cost of sending my kid to an international (as opposed to local) school, plus trying to cope with the never-ending floodgate of Yamato releases, I'm just barely keeping my head above water as it is. Graham

That's great. Can I use it as the main page pic? Also, how tall is it? Graham

Nice work Nani?! Graham

Note to the person who started this thread regarding the title: - A 'dam' is a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea, it is not an expletive! Graham

The gunpod needs coloring the correct color in those side-view fighter mode pics. Graham

Haven't been paying much attention, so are these 1/100 toys actually in stores now or what? Graham

I've found HLJ to be reliable and safe, but from my personal experience they are often notoriously slow with order processing. I'd recommend them if you are not in a hurry, but if you want an item quickly, they are problably not the best choice. Graham

OK, finally saw this movie on DVD last week. Had to wait for the DVD, as it didn't receive a theatrical release here in Hong Kong. I'm a big fan of director Kurt Wimmer's previous film 'Equilibrium' and was looking forward to seeing Ultraviolet, but boy, as much as I hate to say it, it was a real stinker. I haven't seen a movie this bad in a long time. While there were a few nice ideas for weapons tech, the movie was let down by the increadibly bad CG and lousy choreography on the fight scenes. Haven't seen Underworld 2 or Aeon Flux yet either, but I think I'll just play it safe and avoid them. Graham

Thought Lightning would've been an OK name for the F-22. Hated that it called Raptor, just because the Raptor dinosaur got popularised in the Jurassic Park movie. Anyway, weren't the real Raptors only about the size of Chickens? And Lightning is definitely not a suitable name for the F-35 IMO. I can think of many suitable names, but none of them fit to mention in polite company. Graham

Anybody want to take a pic of one next to the Konig Monster? Graham

How do they compare to Banprestos? Tighter joints? Are they are direct or near-direct copy or a completly new design? Anybody want to write a full review for Macrossworld? Graham

Any of you photo shop geniuses want to trying coloring in the Yamato CAD line art in the anime colors? Graham

I'm just guessing here, but if there is a hole in the back of the upper leg for the lower chest section to fit in fighter mode, the hole may be partially covered in battroid mode, by the upper sub-intake section. Or, it just may be that the CAD drawing is wrong. Graham

Crotch piece folding is correct to the lineart.

The Hasegawa is a nice kit, not sure I'd call it awesome though. Even before I knew about the new Yamato YF-19, I always thought it was far too skinny. Hasegawa's YF-21 and VF-22 kit have the same problem as well IMO. Graham