Graham

Pray to the toy gods Oh, that's SOP when it comes to toys these days Repeat after me ten times: "Open the pod bay doors HAL". Maybe it will work. He He He sorry, I'm in a silly mood. Graham

Pray to the toy gods Graham

Updated MPC Alpha Casualty List EXO = Broken hinge on the shoulder missile hatch. Opus = Broken hinge on the sensor pod door. Opus = Thumb fell off the left hand due to stress crack. Opus = Ratchet mechanism broken in left shoulder. Opus = Left hand broke at the pinky edge of the finger joint. dejr8bud = Broken hinge on the sensor pod door. Mechafactory.com = Arm fell off straight out of the box. I guess we can say that Opus is officially having a bad day with 4 breaks on his toy. Graham

When first shown in fighter mode in the Zolan Patrol hanger near the end of episode # 3 (IIRC), the VF-19P is white with red trim. However, once in space in episode # 4, there are some shots where the red trim appears pink (see attached picture). Maybe the paint heated and faded during the VF-19P's launch and flight up into space Graham

It should still be pretty easy to buy on bootleg DVD. Graham

I'm guessing the addition of the fins on the lower leg of the VF-19P is the reason for the change to launching the micro-missile through the hexagonal ports. If the VF-19P used the hinged weapons bay door of the VF-19Kai/F/S, then at least some of the missiles would hit the leg fins as they fired. It's previously been suggested that the change of missile launch system was a cost issue, but I don't think so now. Graham

I dunno, they shouldn't work in space. And by the way, this has nothing to do with the Varauta. Those speakers were added by Lawrence to test his theory. They're not part of the P varient per se. Better watch the show. It's been several years since I last watched Dynamite 7, but wasn't Lawrence also a fan of Fire Bomber? And IIRC Lawrence's theory was that Basara's music could be used to try to communicate with the Galactic Whales? I think the speakers Lawrence constructed for the VF-19P and VF-5000G & VF-5000T-G (2-seater) were not conventional speakers, neither were they a sound energy system, but utilised some method of transmitting music in a way that the whales could recieve it. And Renato is correct, the speakers were not originally part of the VF-19P or VF-5000. Graham

IIRC, from discussions about this with Monkey-N, that "Meteor Busters" 1/48 VF-1A custom with a box autographed by Kawamori is the grand prize for a 'write a Macross essay' competition being run by Figure Oh magazine. Basically, you have to write an essay (in Japanese) explaining why you like Macross and the best essay wins the custom 1/48. Other prizes for the runners-up include IIRC a full set of Doyushas, some Hasegawa Macross models, CMs Macross figures & some K&M Macross figures. And of course the competition is only open to those residing in Japan. Graham

Not just the head, you also need to modify the lower legs to add the two micro-missile ports and of course add the speakers on the shoulders. Graham The VF-19Kai already has micromissile launchers in the legs. And it has speakers in the shoulders, but they're not exposed. The VF-19P fires it's micro-missiles out of two hexagonal openings (ports) located on the outside of each lower leg. The VF-19P does not have the same opening weapons bay doors in the lower leg that the VF-19kai, VF-19F/S, VF-19A and YF-19 have. And yes, I know the VF-19Kai has speakers in the shoulders. However, the point I am making is the "Lawrence" Speaker system on the VF-19P is located on top of the shoulders nacelles on the VF-19P, it is not internal. Graham

Still think Jolt is the best cola. Just a pity you can't buy it in HK anymore. Graham

I'm guessing that just like the Yamato 1/60, the MPC Alpha was not designed on computer, hence the problems with poor parts fitting, large gaps and seams, asymmetrical parts etc. Compare that to the 1/48, which was designed on computer and exhibits far superior parts fitting. Still like my Alpha though despite all the minor problems. Graham

I was just thinking that we should try to keep a running list of parts breakages on the MPC Alpha. After reading through the last few pages of this thread, here's what's been reported so far: - EXO = Broken hinge on the shoulder missile hatch. Opus = Broken hinge on the sensor pod door. Opus = Thumb fell off the left hand (is this a parts breakage or not?) dejr8bud = Broken hinge on the sensor pod door. Mechafactory.com = Arm fell off straight out of the box. Please let me know if I've missed anything. Graham

In Hong Kong at the moment, there are Gundam can tops for Coke cans at some of the convenience stores (can't find a link). There's always some sort of Gundam promotion going on here for bottle or can tops or mini-figures......sigh. Graham

Errr hang on, IIRC, the mini Transformers (the truck & the gun whatever their names are) came with the September issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine, NOT Hobby Japan. Graham

Not just the head, you also need to modify the lower legs to add the two micro-missile ports and of course add the speakers on the shoulders. Graham

Looks interesting. Think I'll check it out. Graham

Well, if an anime can be judged by the amount of merchandise released during it's initial run, then V-Gundam can be said to have been pretty successful! The following V-Gundam merchandise was released during it's TV run in the 1993-1994 period: - 16 x Bandai 1/144 scale plastic models. 5 x Bandai 1/100 scale models. 1 x Bandai 1/60 V2 scale model. 2 x Bandai electronic V-Gundam 1/60 (or were they 1/72 scale?) scale toys. 1 x transforming 1/48 V-Gundam scale toy. 1 x Electronic V-Gundam Beam Rifle Toy (scale ?). 12(?) x 1/144 scale Mobile Suit In Pocket (MSiP) toys (the predecessor of the MSiA line). Numerous resin garage kits and resin conversion kits by B-Club and other manufacturers. Several OST CDs (3 I think?) as well as CD singles. Numerous art books (I own, 3, there may be more). I mean if the show had been a flop and the merchandise had not sold well with the initial release models and toys, then Bandai would not have continued to release so many toys and models during the year that the show ran. Please feel free to correct me if I've made any errors or omitted any items from the above list. And I'd like to add that although I'm not really a Gundam fan, V-Gundam is the only Gundam TV series (including Zeta which I think is way over-rated) that I really enjoyed watching. Graham

Well, hopefully now that the Macross Zero OVA is drawing to a close, a SEGA/AM2 Macross Zero PS2 game will be announced soon. I'm sure most of us regulars remember that one of the old promo movies for the original Macross PS2 game did show the VF-0S, SV-51, YF-19 & YF-21, but no announcement was ever made as to why they were pulled from the finished game. I seem to recall that Egan even had the Zero & Plusm mecha listed on the Compendium's entry for the PS2 game for a while, but he later removed them. I've tried asking Egan what the reason was for the Plus & Zero mecha not being in the game, but he either didn't know or wouldn't tell me. Anyway I agree that a SEGA/AM2 Macross PS2 game set in the 2050s (VF-X3?) would be excellent. Graham

Quick search just turned up these: - VF-19P Battroid & Fighter: Scroll down to below the YF-19. These VF-19P look like conversions of the Bandai 1/144 scale VF-19 Kai plastic model kit. Same kits I think but from a different page. See here, here & here. Graham

There has been nearly nothing in the way of VF-19P merchandise unfortunately. No toys and no plastic models. I did see a painted VF-19P battroid mode resin garage kit either in a magazine or in a website once, but I can't recall the scale, who made it or where I saw it Graham

I'd like a VF-19P toy, but sans whale blood please. I think the VF-19P looks great white. Perhaps a whale blood version, could be a limited edition release. Graham

Ah, but is he Jedi or Sith? Graham

Pictures of the VF-19P can be found on the bottom of pages 124 & 125 of the Macross Design Works book, if you have that book. Black and white line art pictures can also be found in the Dynamite 7 page of the Macross Mecha section at MAHQ. Graham

Yeah, Happy Birthday WJ. Nice info and pics on the missile launcher. You mention on your site, it is an intermediate/standoff range system. One thing that's always bothered me about the New Macross Class Battle Carriers is the apparent lack of any Close-In Weapons-Systems (CIWS). At least none were ever shown in the Macross 7 TV series or in any line-art that I'm aware of. By comparison, the SDF-1 was positively bristling with various turrets and Destroids for close-in defence. I'm wondering is the normal tactic for the New Macross Class ships is to rely purely on their defensive screen of fighters and accompanying Stealth Frigates to prevent the enemy getting in close? But what if the the enemy does get in close, is the standard operating procedure then just to hope and pray that the Pin Point Barrier system will prevent any damage? Sounds like a seriously flawed tactic to me. Thoughts & theories please? Graham

As soon as I have some serious free time, I have some major updates planned for the magazine section, book section, DVD section, game section, toy section & model section. Unfortunately, with a 2 month+1week old son, I have very little free time at the moment. Graham