Graham

I also picked up the August issue of HJ yesterday and I gotta say there are two things that are bugging me about the F90. Firstly, the head sculpt just doesn't look right. I can't put my finger on it, but something looks off. Secondly, I suspect that at least some of the hardpoint covers may not actually be removable, which could mean that none of the add on weapons are planned. I gotta say that that's the nicest looking toy rendition of the F91 to date. Just a pity I'm not really a fan of the mecha. Graham

Sean Connery and giant flying heads, I'd completely forgotten that one. Graham

Err....in which parallel universe? Graham

Good list. My other favorite dystopian future movies from the 70s include: - Death Race 2000. Rollerball (the original, not the crap remake). Graham

Ya know I still don't accept that the VF-11 has no capability to accept underwing hardpoints. Otherwise this would leave it armed only with it's 30mm gunpod and headlaser for atmospheric combat. That is unless the streamlined atmsopheric FAST Packs shown in Nightmarish invasion are fitted. And for space based combat, the standard VF-11B&C FAST Packs certainly look large enough to hold more micro-missiles than the VF-17's shoulder launchers. However, a theory I've developed during the last decade since first watching Plus and 7 is that by the 2040s' or possibly even earlier, the trend in combat is that missiles of all sorts seem to be far less effective and used less frequently than say during the Space War One era. In both Plus and 7 we see gunpods and beam weapons being used and scoring hits far more frequently than missiles. Some examples that spring to mind are: - The opening fight in Plus ep # 1. None of the VF-11Bs use missiles instead relying on gunpods and bayonet. And when Isamu is targeted by enemy missiles, he outruns them with comparitive ease. During Isamu and Guld's final combat, no hits are scored with missiles and the missiles fired at each other seem to be easily dodged or shot down. During the first time the Macross 7 fleet encounters the Varuta, the VF-11Cs choose to attack with gunpods only. This perhaps reflects a belief by pilots that missiles are not regarded as being very effective. In fact, it is not until at least episode # 5 or 6 IIRC, that we even see a VF-11C firing missiles. This decreased use of missiles is probably due in part to the increased thrust of VFs giving them a better ability to outrun missiles, improved effectiveness of defensive systems, such as PPBs, stronger armor, better anti-missile tracking, improved decoys etc. Graham

Gents, Scroll down to the VF-11 entry note: http://www.anime.net/macross/feedback/index.html I remember reading previously on the Compendium that the VF-11's leg weapon bays were not official, but I didn't recall any mention of the VF-17's leg weapons bays. Anyway, for those of you too lazy to read through the Macross Compendium, it has the following to say on the subject: - "Shoji Kawamori did make leg weapon bays part of the official specifications for the VF-11MAXL variant, as well as the General Galaxy VF-17 Nightmare and Shinsei Industry VF-19 Excalibur". Furthermore, the Armament section of the Compendium's VF-17 page includes the following statement: - "Internal standard equipment capable of being exchanged for other weapon packs" This seems to support my theory that the VF-17's leg-bays which were shown holding Reaction Weapons during Operation Stargazer, could instead be optionally fitted with other weapons such as extra micro-missiles, which would explain the greater than normal number of missiles being fired in 'The Galaxy Is Calling Me'. Graham

Ah, but assuming that the VF-17's leg weapons-bays are legit (Egan?), then it may be possible to replace the normal hinged opening type doors, with flush mounted micro-missile launchers, similar to how the doors on the leg-mounted weapon-bays of the VF-19Kai/F & S were replaced with twin flush-mounted micro-missile launchers on the legs of the VF-19P. Just fan speculation Graham

Kurt, I'll add this to the MW Custom Toy Gallery as soon as I have time. Sorry, the new baby is taking most of my free time at the moment. Fun critter tho Graham

I'm guessing that the above screen capture from 'The Galaxy is Calling Me' is simply an animation error as a VF-17 without FAST packs fitted should AFAIK only be able to fire 4 micro-missiles per salvo, not the 14 missiles at once shown in the picture. And the VF-17 shown in the above picture does not appear to have any FAST Packs fitted. Unless of course that is the leg weapon bays first shown being loaded with reaction weapons in episode # 43 are in fact canon and can possibly be loaded with different weapons pallets, i.e. reaction missiles or micro-missiles. Graham

I have one of each. I might end up selling the Valk + armor tho. Graham

Well, for removing paint from a Transformer I was going to suggest a liberal dousing in gasoline followed up by the application of a cigarette lighter, but I better not, otherwise I'll probably get flamed for being mean to transformers I also hear that a blow-torch works well Graham

They way I look at it is to consider the way the Ghost X-9 is shown to fight, which seems to be mostly ultra-high speed slashing attacks, i.e zoom in guns blazing and then zoom away just as fast and circle round for another attack. I would think with this sort of attack method, if the YF-19 or YF-21 were in Gerwalk or Battroid mode, they would only have a spit second (a few seconds maximum) to target the X-9 before it was out of effective weapons range. The YF-19 and YF-21 would certainly not be able to keep up with the X-9 if they were in Gerwalk or Battroid modes. Basically, the only way that they would be fast enough to get into and stay in effective weapons range would be in Fighter mode. Graham

Let's hope that both Egan Loo and Nanashi keep up the good work for many years to come. The worldwide Macross community would be so much poorer without them. Graham

Gotta disagree with you there. I think the fight choreography in Macross Zero is absolutely breathtaking, even better than in Macross Plus and truly shows how Valks would be used in combat. I'm loving Macross Zero, but also hope the last episode is extended to 45 - 60 minutes to tie up all the loose ends and hopefully show lots more mecha combat. Graham

how about stealth losing it's usefullness due to advancements in radar and tracking systems Yup, that's another good reason I didn't think of. Graham

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Nightmare purely passive stealth? Releasing it without stealth would've meant creating a whole new plane. Not likely, if something as early as the VF-0/SV-51 has active stealth-lost technology or not it would have been regained by the time the VF-17 was engineered. The VF-17 probably would have both passive stealth structure and an active stealth system. I've also been pondering why the SV-51 and VF-0 have active stealth technology and later VFs like the VF-4, VF-5000, VF-11, VF-17 etc do not. Here's a list of possible reasons that I've come up with: - The technology was lost during the bombardment of Earth during Space War One. Early Active Stealth technology was deemed too expensive to add to mass-produced fighters. Early active stealth technology was not that stable and did not mature until the 2040s. Personally, I tend to discount the technology being lost. No real reason, just a gut feeling Graham

Please do not use Macross VF-X2's game-specific armor strength ratings as Macross technical specifications without corroboration. As with other games, Shoji Kawamori has specifically stated that the game-specific capabilities of Macross VF-X2 are not intended to always reflect the "reality" of Macross. http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?...ndpost&p=163482 If we discount the game stats and instead focus on the Macross 7 anime, the VF-17 does appear to be far more heavily armored than the main VF in service at the time, the VF-11C. One episode that springs immediately to mind is episode # 6, 'First Contact', where Gamlin's VF-17D takes multiple missile hits yet suffers only relatively minor damage while protecting the escape pods. When first watching this episode back in 1994, I'd assumed the VF-17 was fitted with a Pin Point Barrier system, although my later research finds no mention of this. However, since Macross Zero, my current assumption is rather that the VF-17 just has particulaly tough armor and a very efficient SW-AG energy converting armor system. Graham

The VF-17 is not that suited to the atmospheric role due to it's minimal atmospheric control surfaces. With it's large number of verniers (more than any other VF I think) it is far more suited to and is primarily designed towards operations in space. Also, although the VF-17 packs an impressive amount of beam weapons (head, forearms (wrists & elbows), & chest) as well as a gunpod and gunpod beam adaptor, it is very light on missile armament, unless the optional FAST Packs are fitted. Although no official figures have been given, I would guess that the 4 x shoulder-mounted micro-missile launchers probably only have enough internal space to hold no more than 2 to 3 micro missiles each. Graham

This was already discussed in the model forum a month ago when the magazine first came on May 23rd I posted pics in this topic. Graham

Even though I've got the R2 original, I thought I'd pick up a copy of the HK boot as well. The thing that made me laugh the most is that in the begining, when Nora is kicking Shin, Sara calls out Shin's name and the subtitles translate it as "New" 'Shin' being Japanese for 'new'. Idiots. Graham

As for the perceived lack of panel lines, I think that some of them are perhaps not showing up well in the photos due to the lighting and the color of the plastic, but they are there. And remember, Yamato should only put whatever panel lines are on Kawamori's lineart. I personally don't agree with adding additional non-canon panel lines just for the sake of having more detail, as Hasegawa are prone to do with their Macross model kits. Regarding the length of the 4 top cannon, well this is limited by necessity. The cannon have to be able to fit inside in shuttle modeso can only be as long as the internal bay in shuttle mode. And I'm hoping the small 30mm chest gun will be on the final version. Judging from the photos, I suspect this is still not quite the final version. Graham

I've got 10 FP sets altogether, although only 6 of them are on the toys at the moment. Never had a problem with them. Graham

Thanks for all the kind words guys. So to answer some of the questions that have been asked..... The baby and mother should be home from the hospital on Monday. No, we haven't chosen a Chinese name yet. My wife's parents are trying to come up with a Chinese name for him. All my Bandai 1/55 reissues are back in their boxes and will be given to my son as his first Valk toys when he is old enough, say 5 years old. Although I'll probably remove the landing gear springs so he doesn't hurt his fingers. My Yamato collection is safe in a glass display cabinet, which will soon be getting a lock . I originally wanted to name him Roy, but my wife didn't approve the name. I would also have liked Gamlin as a middle name, but again I was overruled And no, I haven't tried to transform him yet Here's a photo of me with Jeffrey on day 2 (Saturday June 12th). Graham

Looks like Yamato forgot the 30mm cannon, mounted just under the chest block. See pic below. Graham

Nope, That's the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the Jordan district of Kowloon, Hong Kong Graham