Graham

Yep, that's correct. Simply attaching a set of F/S wings to a YF-19 or VF-19A does not make it a VF-19S/F. Pretty much every part of the VF-19S/F is different from the YF-19. Major differences would be completely different lower leg design with vernier ankle ring, more outwardly placed tails, smaller shield, no canards, completely different shoulder shape with folding flaps on rear shoulders, plus many, many other differences. If you put a set of those F/S wings on a Hasegawa YF-19, I guess you could call it a prototype VF-19F/S, but it would never be a true VF-19F/S without major resculpting of most parts. Graham

I have both the 1/60 GPB with VF-1J set and also one set of just the armor. On both of my GBP armors the front groin peices constantly fall off, no matter which 1/60 I try them on. Although to be fair, I've only tried them on 2-3 different 1/60s. Graham

Oh, nearly anything is possible with enough time, patience and skill. Unfortunately, I lack all three hence the quick super glue fix . Graham

That goes without saying. Graham

Wow, I have no recollection of that mecha at all, but it's probably about a decade since I last watched Gunbuster. Perhaps it's time to dig up my old VHS tapes and see if I like it any better this time round. Graham

While I'm sure the toys will be well designed being from Bandai, it's just a pity I don't like Kawamori's Aqarion designs. I'll pass on these, no matter how well engineered the toys end up being. Graham

It's years since I last watched Gunbuster, so what the heck is a "Sizzler"? Sounds like the name of a sausage! Graham

To be sung to the tune of Dylan's 'Blowing In The Wind'

Use some super glue to glue the hip rods permanently into the nose cone. While you are at it, also glue the front groin armor as well, to stop it falling off all the time. Yes, you will end up with a non-transforming Valk with non-removable groin armor, but at least the toy becomes playable, instead of an expensive display piece that falls apart if you as much as breath on it. Perhaps you can guess I don't think Yamato did a very good job with this toy. Graham

Yep, that's likely very true. I used to hear a lot of compaints from Yamato about the lengthy approval process. Sometimes BW and Kawamori are their own worst enemies when it comes to Macross. Graham

I don't think it's a case of BW not letting Yamato renew the license. More likely, it's probaby Yamato choosing not to pay to renew the license as they figure there is not enough profit to be made. And just which license are you referring to? AFAIK, Yamato had several licences with BW, not just 1 licence. I think it was something like 1 license for the M+ toys, 1 for VFX2 toys, 1 for TV & DYRL toys (actually might have been two seperate liences for 1/60 & 1/48, not sure on that), 1 license for M0 toys. I think each license is valid for a 2 year period. So chances are some license have already been renewed at least once and some have expired and not been renewed for whatever reason. Graham

Seen The Cockpit years ago. Thought it was ok, but again the potato-headed secondary characters put me off. Graham

Looking good so far, but the nose and forearms both need some work as they make it look too much like a VF-1. Graham

I've always thought that BW waited far too long to release a proper sequel to Macross. I mean from DYRL in 1984 to Macross II in 1992, that's 8 years of no Macross! OK, there was also Flash Back 2012 released in 1987, but that doesn't really count as it's basically just 30 minute of recycled song footage from the TV series and DYRL with a couple of minutes of new scenes added. BW really needed to strike while Macross was still fresh in everybody's minds and still popular. A sequel TV series say in 1985 or 1986, followed up by a new series or OVA every couple of years (just like Bandai/Sunrise does with Gundam) would possibly have led to Macross being as popular as Gundam is today, assuming proper marketing and support from major toy and model manufacturers. Macross certainly has the better looking mecha and better music for the most part than Gundam, so as long as the original creative team were retained I don't think it's unreasonable that Macross could have become the Gundam of today. It was certainly popular enough in 1982. In the end though, it was just too little, too late from BW and Macross was never again able to catch up to the Gundam giant. Graham

Another child of the 70s here and I've also never seen any Space Battleship Yamato. But then again, for some reason Leiji Matsumoto's animes have never appealed to me. I think it's his character designs that put me off. Graham

While it looks cool and all, you would just not get me buying something called 'Penelope Gundam'. Graham

I always get the impression, that BW doesn't really care about Macross, sort of like a bastard step child or something. Or perhaps it's just that they are actually quite incompetent and have no idea how to properly promote and market it. As far as I know, Macross is BW's only anime property, so you would think that they would be a bit more active in promoting it. Sigh........it's not easy keeping the faith sometimes. We have BW doing a half assed job, combined with HG trying to block Macross at every step of the way and to top it all off, Kawamori seems to be turning into some sort of nature obsessed tree hugger. Graham

Ah the metric system! You mean that little known system that's in use by 99% of the world Graham

Considering those disappearences take place years apart (2008, 2016 & 2047), it's extremely unlikely that the characters would all meet up at the same time. Graham

Your wife is always pissed with you (not just this year) Graham

Ah...stereotypes, based on Hollywood's portrayal of the British! Yes, all educated British men are naturally effeminate and condescending, just the same way as all Americans are 350lb, burger eating, flannel shirt wearing slobs called Bubba who marry their 14 year old cousins. I'm guessing you've not travelled outside of the US much eh? There's nothing I hate worse than steroytyping or generalizations. You will find effeminate and condescending men in every country and among every people, just as you wil find fat slobs in every country. There's no monopoly on this sort of thing you know! Graham

Where did you get that information? That's the first time I've seen a specific caliber mentioned for the Q-Rau's chest guns. I'm guessing you are quoting inaccurate RPG stats? The Macross Compendium, which can be considered an official source and a direct translation of Japanese source material has the following to say on the Q-rau's armament: - Primary Cannon: two medium-bore simultaneously-firing impact cannon. Secondary Gun: two air-to-air high-speed-rotating tri-barrel laser pulse gun. Rocket Weaponry: four close-combat short-range super-minature high-manoeuvrabilty missile launchers (126 missiles standard). Graham

He's a car. He takes it up the tail pipe of course! Graham

Andy, There's some parts in the package that I'm not sure what they are. Can you elaborate? I can recognize the 2 leg FAST packs and the 2 shoulder FAST packs, but what are the other bits? Graham

The 1/72 variable kits were good for their time, but with advances in model technology and design, they are looking increasingly dated these days. One of the best things about the 1/72 kits is the beautiful classic box art IMO. I've owned several of them over the past 20 years and before the deluge of new VF-1 toys from Yamato/Bandai/Banpresto/Toynami, the old 1/72 kits were a great poor man's alternative to the old Takatoku/Bandai 1/55 toys from the 80s. As others have stated, if you want a good variable VF-1 these days, the Yamato 1/48 is really the only way to go. For non transforming VF-1 model kits, the Hasegawa Fighter and Battroid mode kits are king of the hill. Just a pity Hasegawa has yet to release any Gerwalk mode kits. Graham