Graham

Not sure what the pitot tube is made of, but I'm guessing either PVC or POM. ABS or diecast would be too likely to break. From my understanding, the pitot tube is detachable, but it can also be left on the Valk and rotated 180º so that it is facing backwards under the nose. This way it can be kept on in Battroid mode, although there may be some interference with the T-Bar. Graham

No, as already mentioned a few pages back, the pitot tube is a detachable part. Graham

The Operation Stargazer mission (ep # 44). Gamlin kicking ass in a borrowed VF-11C (ep # 7) Mylene in a Bikini (ep # 7) Graham

Nah, naked Boomer pics and a MKII toy is what I've been waiting for Graham

Nice diorama masterqq, but IMO the VF-1 would look much better if the legs could be modified to have a spread leg stance. Graham

If it was 1984 and 1/100 scale, it would have been by Imai, not Bandai. Imai made the 1/100 Tomahawk and Arii made the 1/72 Tomahawk in 1982-83. Bandai did not start with any Macross models until 1985. Graham

It would be nice if we got some painted box art like Yamato did for their Votoms boxes, but I somehow doubt it. They seem addicted to using in-house Photo Shop for their Macross goodies. Graham

Bear in mind that this catalogue was actually, printed in late 2005. At the time the catalogue went to the printers, the new releases for 2006, probably hadn't even been confirmed yet. I'm sure that we are going to get more new release from Hasegawa in 2006, not just the VF-0S battroid. Graham

There is no internal heat shield. On the VF-0 in fighter mode, the heatshield stays external, located behind the cockpit and does not retract under the chest plate. Graham

It was less than that. Graham

It's a Test-Shot from the moulds, which means it's pretty much how the final product is going to be. Graham

You can see from some of SaveRobotech's latests pics that they haven't transformed the shoulder correctly. And don't worry, the chest plate does not block the shoulders. Trust me on this. Graham

Picked up the Hasegawa 2006 model catalog a few days ago. Here's the scans of the 4 page pull-out Macross section. Nothing really new shown though, except a small color CG VF-0S battroid pic. Click on thumbnails to enlarge. Graham

I'm sure we will eventually get a new Macross TV series, or at least an OVA or movie. If not for the 25th anniversery, then perhaps for the 30th. While Kawamori should of course still be retained as the primary mecha designer on any new projects (nobody else can design VFs like he can), I agree with others here that perhaps Big West should get somebody else to write and direct the story and avoid any mystical or tree-hugging elements that Kawamori seems so fond of now. Oh and I have no plans of hiding away or selling my Macross toys, even though I'm now closer to 40 than I am to 30. Graham

I've always liked the look of the Legioss (although not as much as the VF-1) and Shinji Aramaki, the designer of the Legioss is my second favorite mecha designer after Kawamori. However, it's clear that Aramaki designs his mecha to look cool, without thinking too much of the real-world practicality or workability of the design, unlike Kawamori. My major issue with the Legioss is that it has no method of pitch control in Armo-fighter mode for atmospheric flight. Although neither the VF-1 or the Legioss have any horizontal tail surfaces or elevators, the VF-1's thrust vectoring feet move up and down to provide pitch control. However, the Legioss's feet can only move side to side and thus cannot provide any pitch control. IIRC, we once had a discussion in another thread about whether the Legioss would fly in an atmosphere and the consensus was that it would not (David Hingtgen or other knowledgable MW aviation experts, please feel free to step in and correct me if I am wrong). Other issues I have with the Legioss are: - 1) In Armo-fighter mode, the boxy shoulder missile launchers are very unaerodynamic and would probably create lots of buffeting and limit maximum speed in atmosphere to sub-sonic. 2) While the Legioss carries lots of micro-missiles, they are all short-range only. Lack of any medium or long range weapons is a major disadvantage. 3) While the curved gunpod magazine may look cool, it's a impractical as far as carriage of the weapon in fighter mode. The magazine actually just is a battery pack and does not hold cannon shells, so there is no reason to make it curved and have it sticking out at 90º to the gunpod body. Heck, on the toynami MPC you have to remove the magazine to attach the gunpod to the wing in fighter mode! 4) having the wings folding down in Armo-Diver mode provides less lift. Graham

Cough........Gundam.........cough! Graham

Nah, it says the 1/60 VF-0S is so tough it eats the 1/48s for breakfast.... :D Graham

The VF-0S toy looks awesome. Blows the VF-1 away in apperance IMO. Graham

It's not loose, it's open for maintenance! Graham

Yay.....Sailor Moon Gundam! G-Gundam.......the show that caused me to loose all respect for the Gundam franchise. Graham

Looks like the back plate is not locked into place also. Graham

WIPE it good Good advice...........never skimp on personal hygiene. Graham

Call me a dinosaur, but I'm dead set against ebooks. I prefer the feel of a real paper book in my hands. Graham

I'm with JsARCLIGHT on this, I have no interest on watching movies on the tiny screen of a portable platform. Call me old fashioned, but If I'm away from home and have time to kill, I'd much rather read a good book. Graham

That is the credit card exclusive Valk. The Stealth Valk WILL be a different color scheme. Graham