Graham

I've always thought that the first production model, the VF-19A, which is almost identical to the prototype YF-19, except for having more powerful engines was primarily designed to be optimised for atmospheric combat as the design seems to emphasise atmospheric control surfaces rather than a large number of verniers. Whereas the VF-19F/S which have fewer and smaller atmospheric control surfaces (smaller wings, no canards, no lower leg fins), but a greater number of verniers, are optimised for space combat. Of course all variants of the VF-19 are capable of flying and fighting in both space and atmosphere but some are optimised for one space and some for atmsophere. If you think about it, this sort of makes sense. I mean a colony fleet like Macross 7 spends 99.99% of it's time in space until it finds a suitable planet to colonise, which could take years or even decades, so it makes sense to have the fighter force optimised for space combat. Graham

Looks like a Wookie that's been cross bred with a Predator Graham

Yeah, I also can never get the feet completely symmetrical in fighter mode, no matter how long I spend wiggling them. In my opinion, transforming to fighter mode seems the most difficult to get everything lined up and locked in to place. By comparison, transforming to Battroid or Gerwalk is a peice of cake. Graham

Mine is above 3000 in the 31XX range IIRC and only has a few minor problems. Overall, I'm satisfied with it. Graham

And like it or not this is Macrossworld a website devoted to the Japanese anime Macross and it's sequels and merchandise. Posting Robotech specific information such as a Robotech chronology in response to a question about Macross is generally frowned upon here. Smart Alec replies to the Admin tend to be frowned upon even more. Whether the majority of members grew up watching Robotech first is irrelevant. As I said this is Macrossworld, not 'Robotechworld' or not even 'Macross & Robotechworld'! If anybody here wants to have an indepth discussion about Robotech, I'd suggest the forums at robotech.com. As a general reminder for those of you who have not read it yet, please read the Macrossworld rules & regulations, specifically section IV which concerns Robotech. Graham

Recomend you read through the official Chronology at the Macross Compendium. Graham

Zor? Who is this Zor person of whom you speak, is he French? But seriously, this is a forum for discussing Macross anime not Robotech, so please leave out the Robotech references, especially as the ones you mentioned have absolutely no relation to the story of Macross. Graham

Damn, saw the title of this thread and thought it was going to be about the cult 70s British TV show. There I go showing my age again. Graham

VF-5000, not VF-3000. Graham

This is something that gets discussed on these forums from time to time and back in the late 1990s, I wrote an essay (which is still floating around the internet somewhere) on the various differences of the VF-19 variants. Anyway, my theory as to why the Macross 7 fleet only had a limited number of VF-19F/S fighters is as follows: - Although the decision was made in 2041 to adopt the VF-19 as the next main variable fighter to replace the VF-11, that does not mean that the VF-19 would immediately enter service the same year. In fact it would probably be several years before the first operational VF-19 squadron becomes active. Consider that it takes time to manufacture tooling, set up production facilities get the production line rolling, train instructor pilots and maintenance personal etc etc. And of course there is the issue of funding. It can be assumed that the VF-19 would be more expensive to produce than the VF-11. And in a time of comparative peace, I can't imagine the UN military to being able to secure enough funding to replace the thousands or tens of thousands of VF-11s in service all at once. I would imagine that the VF-19 would go into initial low rate productionby around 2043 or 2044 and the first units would probably go to special forces squadrons or units actively engaged in combat. Even though the Macross 7 fleet obviously had the blueprints and tooling to produce the VF-19, it was probably felt by the command staff, including Captain Max there was no hurry to do so. As far as we know, prior to encountering the Varuta in 2045, the Macross 7 fleet had been travelling peacefully though space for 7 years without encountering any major threat. And why waste valuable and finite resources in replacing all the hundreds of VF-11C fighters if there is no threat. Graham

I've always followed the theory that the VF-19P is a slightly downgraded export version of the VF-19. As for why the the Zolan Galactic Whale Patrol has been issued or allowed to purchased a VF-19P in 2047, my theory is that due to the serious nature of the Galactic Whale Poaching problem and the increasingly heavy armament used by the whale poachers (VA-3C, VF-11, VF-17 etc), it was felt necessary for the Zolan Patrol to have a more modern Variable Fighter than their extremely outdated VF-5000Gs. As the VF-5000's first flight was in 2018, you have to consider that by 2047 it is already a 29 year old design! I would imagine that the Zolan Planetary Government put in a request for the latest fighter with Shinsei Industries and due to the seriousness of the whale poaching problem, the UN Government back on Earth fast-tracked the purchase and export approval. Graham

The pirates do not have the VF-19P. It's the Zolan Patrol forces that have the VF-19P (P = patrol?) Graham

Yep, I'm happy enough with it that I have no regrets buying it. Graham

See MW Model Section for more info. Warning, this is not a 'perfect transformation' kit. Switching between the three modes requires a lot of parts swapping/removal. Definitely a kit for experienced resin moddlers only. Graham

Bah........the only good movies that Spielberg has directed IMO have been Jaws, Close Encounters ofthe Third Kind and Raiders of the Lost Ark . I'd also like to second that any War of the Worlds movie should be filmed as an 1800s period peice, with Tripod war machines. Just say no to modern movie re-imagings of classic books. Best War of The Worlds ever IMO has to be Jeff Wayne's musical version Superbly acted and sung and has great illustrations as well. Graham

So stealthy, I can't even see the pic Graham

I'll second that, I think Toynami did a really good job on the hands. My Alpha also does not have floppy arms. I was thinking about this thread last night and wondering are we perhaps being a little too hard on the toy too soon? To be honest, I'm mostly happy with this toy. I mean yes, the paint job is fairly poor, but I was expecting that from Toynami anyway. As for the fragility of the toy, well all we've had so far is one hatch breakage reported, so it's a little early to start panicking just yet. Yes, it sucks that EXO had a hatch break, but it's only one incidence as yet (cross fingers, touch wood etc.). From now we all wil be extra-careful with the missile hatches. I don't plan to open mine much anyway. Frankly, I'm more worried about the wing hinges, but that has always been a weak point on all Alpha/Legioss toys and models anyway. Yes, the Alpha MPC is not perfect and has a lot of minor flaws, but that's par for the course for Toynami. And let's face it most of the flaws are pretty minor. Heck this is Toynami we are talking about, it's hardly fair to expect Bandai or Takara quality from them Graham

Awww..........that's so sweet. No Macross toys for my son yet as he's far too young at 2 months and one week old, but I've already started playing Macross CDs to him. I have to do it when my wife is at work though, as she doesn't like Macross music For somebody with such a good taste in men, she has a very poor taste in music Graham

DatterBoy, Nice looking custom and nice looking kid as well. Personally, I would think at 2 years old, he might be a bit young to be playing with Valk toys, but anyway that's your call as a father However, I'd definitely say that at that age, a Valk toy should be allowed only with adult supervision though. I'd recommend a 1/55 Bandai reissue rather than a Yamato 1/60 as the 1/55 is tougher and more resistant to rough handling, plus there's no heavy legs to fall off. However, even with a 1/55 for a child that young, I'd recommend removing the front and rear landing gear springs to prevent the spring-loaded landing gear from hurting his little fingers when it pops open. I'd also consider gluing the canopy permanently on, so he can't remove it and try to swollow it and choke on it. We all know how little kids like to put everything in their mouths. Probably the best starter Valk for a small child IMO would be the Bandai 1/65 scale VF-17D/S toys. Those thing are virtually indestructible, even tougher than the 1/55s and yet have no metal parts and no removeable parts, except the gunpod. Now I have my own kid, I've been thinking a lot about child-proofing my collection and which toy is best to start him with Graham

The VF-0A box art was already posted by another member in this thread on August 10th. Please keep discussions on the VF-0A in the linked thread. Thanks, Graham

Ouch! I like my MPC Alpha, really I do, but I get the feeling we are going to be seeing more and more casulties, especially with the missile hatches and wing hinges as more members start receiving these toys. I hope I'm wrong, but my gut feeling is that the MPC Alpha is going to turn out to be a toy which should be handled with care and seldom transformed for the sake of longevity. Graham

Saw 2 or 3 VF-17D toys in the Causeway Bay area of HK yeasterday, but they were quite expensive at HK$850 each (approx US$109). Graham

If you want to sell me yours for $16.99 I'll buy it from you Graham

Just got my MPC Alpha from Kevin (thanks for the fast service). Here's my first impressions, negatives first, then positives: - Negatives Dried dirty glue on left forearm. Forearm missiles only half visible when hatches open, Disappointed that shoulder sensor has to be removed for fighter mode = not perfect transformation! Disappointed that gunpod magazine has to be removed for fighter mode = not perfect transformation! Rear landing gear doors difficult to open. Front landing gear difficult to take out, Some overspray and paint scratches new out of the box. Left wing damn diffiicult to fold during fighter to gerwalk transformation. I thought the wing hinges were going to snap = very scary! Huge feet = unnecessary? Belly drags in fighter mode, rear landing gear pretty useless! In battroid mode, the wing tip pegs will not stay plugged into the holes on the underside of the nose. Positives Nice box. Well illustrated color instruction manual. Yamato could learn a thing or two from Toynami's manuals. Great striker placement guide. Toy looks good in all three modes. Nice pilot figure. Overall good articulation. Gunpod grip well designed with palm attachment peg, so gunpod hand holds gunpod securely. Overall, I like the toy, and may consider buying a second blue Alpha. I'll definitely buy at least one each of the other color variations. Most of my complaints are minor in nature and I can live with them. I do think Toynami's QC inspector(s) need to get the factory to improve their paint application tho. Graham

My stepmom is Greek, so I've been to Greece many times, love the country and food. Thought the opening ceremony was superb, the Greeks did an excellent job. Graham