Graham

I do think that 1/48 would be a bit too large for an 'ultimate detail' YF-19 toy, where as 1/72 scale is a little too small to get the necessary level of detail. Personally, I think either 1/55 or 1/65 scale would be a good compromise. I'd still definitely be up for a low-cost toy version of the LS YF-19 in 1/100 scale though. Graham

The are the same only in that they are both variable YF-19 garage kits. Actually, if you study them carefully, it's easy to see that there are a huge number of differences between the older IHP kit and the newer LS version. Despite being sculpted by the same person, they are completely different kits. After looking at the photos of both the parts and the completed kits, I seriously doubt that there is a single shared component between them. Graham

¥4000 is the retail price. ¥4200 is including the Japanese sales tax. If you are ordering from overseas this extra ¥200 sales tax should not apply. Graham

I've owned several of these kits over the past 10 years, but don't currently have a completed one on hand, although I still have 3 unbuilt in boxes. It's not a bad kit, but really needs painting to look the best. If you don't paint it and just use the foil stickers, it looks awful IMO. Yes, parts removal is required for transformation. To transform from Battroid mode to Fighter mode, you will need to remove the following peices: - Hands. Groin/lower torso piece. Head. You will then need to add the fighter mode head cover. It's quite a sturdy kit, with the only real fragile areas being the little tabs that are supposed to lock the wings into the legs in Fighter mode. Graham

I've always disagreed with the idea that M7 was aimed at kids. If anything, I think the opposite is true and it was made with a more mature audience in mind. No, I'm not going to write a dozen paragraphs defending this view, it's just my gut feeling. That and the fact that a certain level of maturity is helpful in accepting some of the more outlandish concepts and visual designs in M7. Graham

Here's the link: - http://www.studio-tenjin.com/ Graham

Still wondering if anybody here has the Colonial Viper & Cylon Raider toys from the original series made by Joyride Studios. Thinking of buying them and want to know if they are worth getting? Graham

Got these teeny die-cast suckers for now just because they looked cool: Where are those from? Graham

Hmmm.....I hope it is on the way, but there is always a possibility that they are just pages from the Macross Zero book that was already cancelled. Graham

I cross posted this in the model section as well, as Tenjin is primarily known for his Macross model art. There are some members who mainly post in the model section, so they might have missed the news if it was only posted in one forum. Presumably the book will have all Tenjin's Hasegawa Macross box art pics, his VF-X2 game cover art, his 2000 calendar art, Macross Plus DVD cover art and some of his earlier Macross art from his old Macross website. If you look at this link, which Major Tom provided earlier it shows both the page count and the ISBN number. Graham

If Yamato were to mass-produce an ABS version of the Liquid Stone 1/100 scale YF-19 and release it for a reasonable price, say around ¥5,000 I would be on it in a flash and would buy at least half a dozen. I'd settle for the current design without improvements, but would be happier if they could modify it to allow the gunpod to attach in fighter mode. I seriously doubt it will happen though. I think at this stage that there is more chance of another company picking up the Mac Plus license from BW, rather than Yamato revisiting the Mac Plus toys. Graham

136 pages IIRC. Graham

I agree that is the most likely explanation. Graham

Of course, we don't know that those boobs are real do we. They could be false. Rey could actually be a guy pretending to be a girl pretending to be a guy How's that for a plot twist! Anyway, I don't really care about Rey. Just as long as they don't make Lunamaria a man, then I will really scream. Graham

Nah, that's just a resin sculpt, not an ABS Test Shot, which means that the tooling is not done yet (perhaps not even started). In fact even the resin sculpt is not finished as one of the intake covers is not ready (it's missing from the pic) I'd say based on what I know of Yamato from the past: - 1-2 months to cut the tooling. Another 1-2 months of making test shots and modifying the tooling to get any bugs worked out. 1 month for the production run. A couple of weeks for shipping from China to Japan. We are probably looking at a minimum of 3.5 months up to 6.5 months before the toy is released. Of course we don't know if the sculpt shown in the photo has Kawamori's/BW's final approval yet. If not and some changes are required, that could add another month or two (at least) to the production time . Graham

You do know that question carries an automatic 1 month ban Graham

Chris, Mind if I use that as a new main page pic? Graham

Seriously thinking of starting a Macross 7 thread just for those of us that like the series, so that we can discuss it in peace. Anybody posting negative comments in that thread, e.g. "Macross 7 sucks", "Valks with faces are gay" etc will have their posts deleted. Repeat offenders, those that constantly post crap in the thread will face a ban. Graham

Yeah, I agree with Andy, if the VF-11 is not coming until the end of 2005, it's unlikely that we will see a magazine announcement for it for several months yet. Patience folks. Graham

Release date is scheduled for April 14th, but these things usually slip. Graham

A non-MWer friend of mine just sent me the following email: - In case macrossworld does not know yet, copy and pasted from rec.arts.anime.misc --------------------------------- Current Product Specials include (first price is SRP, second price is sale price): [snipped non-macross products] av002230 Macross, Super Dimensional Fortress DVD Box Set 1 (S) (eps 1-12) $69.98 $37.99 av002231 Macross, Super Dimensional Fortress DVD Box Set 2 (S) (eps 13-24) $69.98 $37.99 av002232 Macross, Super Dimensional Fortress DVD Box Set 3 (S) (eps 25-36) $69.98 $37.99 (Remember that the Macross license for AnimEigo has lapsed; these are the all new boxes that were left. When they're gone, no more will be made.) ------------------------------------------------------ I've no idea if these sale price figures are good, as I don't bother keeping track of prices of the AnimEigo DVDs as I bought my set when they first came out. Hope this info is useful. Graham

The guy charges so much that I would have ended up paying double if I wanted the screw holes and seams filled. Graham

Anybody heard any news about toys and/or models coming of the updated designs? Graham

Not with those wing things. The only pic with those wing things is the fighter mode one already posted Graham

Looking closely at the groin armor it looks like the nosecone cover is a separate piece and not molded as one-piece with the groin armor. You can clearly see the line between the groin armor proper and the additional nosecone cover. I think Yamato have chosen to go both ways with the GBP, you either have the Valk with no nosecone and no nosecone cover, or you keep the nosecone on the Valk and use the nosecone cover. (gawd... is this what life has come to, starring at robots groins ). Graham