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

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