Vifam7

Perhaps a gimmick to allow one of those anime magic poses? It looks like it can be straight down as well.

American fans do get better prices on domestic release anime DVDs and Blu-rays. Yet, the perception is that many still do not buy them. Considering that a number of domestic anime companies fell off the screen in recent times, it's hard not have that perception. And too often I've heard American anime fans asking where they can download (for free) such and such anime title when there is a perfectly legitimate DVD/Blu-ray release out there.

They've been doing anime parodies and in-jokes long before Lucky Star. Such as Gainax's Gunbuster and Otaku no Video. What was unique about Lucky Star was that it was based on a 4-koma manga which ran in a popular computer game magazine (Comptiq). It already had a built in fanbase and with the anime being produced by Kyoto Animation (which was still hot from the megahit Suzumiya Haruhi), anime fans were ready to hop on board. Ofcourse it did help that it was filled with anime and game references. I personally felt that Lucky Star was decent when it just about Konata and gang. However, I never understood or enjoyed all of those Lucky Channel segments and horribly sung endings with Minoru Shiraishi.

I disagree. Fighter planes look better with the wings swept back. Forward swept wings makes the aircraft look like it's going the wrong way. I would like to see a sweep back feature on this but it wouldn't be a dealbreaker if it's not there.

I doubt Bandai making any kind of new perfect transformation VF-1 toy. They tried with the Hi-Metal VF-1 and it seems to have failed. I'm surprised some up above liking the Hi-Metal though. When it was first released, it seemed like everyone was trashing on it. This VF-1 kit may be the last time we'll get a VF-1 perfect transformation design in 1/72 scale. Or any other scale as I don't see Arcadia doing a 1/48v2 or a 1/60v3. BTW, here's a nice big photo of the VF-1A in battroid mode: http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/newsokusaisoku/imgs/4/3/4324790e.jpg

You might be pleased to know that there is going to be some metal shafts included in the kit. Latest description said 12 pieces, so I'm kinda wondering where they're going to go.

Perhaps this pic shows how effective it could be. The F-2s are on the top right. http://schwarze01.tumblr.com/image/24708833280

JASDF's blue on blue camo scheme is my #1 favorite.

I think it looks just fine. The super packs seem a bit small but I don't mind.

Retractable landing gears always look too toyish. Yamato did it decently but it's still toyish. I'm glad that this model does not have such a gimmick. It'll make it much easier for me to replace the Bandai gears (if necessary - I need to see them firsthand).

I have one on pre-order. If it's released at the end of this month (something I'm still doubting), I might start putting it together over the 4th of July holiday.

That's just your reasoning. Others do not consider landing gear doors and hatches as seam lines to fix. And still others have differing opinions of what is "realistic".

Those tubes never last. At least in my experience. The ones in the plastic bottles are better but the more times it's used, the crust on application tip starts to impede complete seal of the cap which then leads to the glue going bad. And it's hard to get that crust off. The Tamiya and Testors liquid cement bottles last much much longer in my experience.

Less forgiving if you make mistakes. Also more expensive.

No, it's feasible. All 4 lasers could potentially have a ball joint much like those gunpla fingers.

The article suggests that they're still not finished making changes and adjustments - particularly detail on the nosecone, landing gears, and gunpod. Same with the Strike packs - cannons are going to be bigger sized and more detail to the boosters it says.

If I were to guess, I think all of the stripes and colors will be painted on but all of the "anniversary markings" (ie. the words and logos) would be stickers/water slide decals. Which would probably be good because that'll give one options to mark it as they wish.

The tail seems to be not locked in correct position on the display model. I'll probably be swapping out the nose gear for a Tomcat one from my parts bin.

In the real world, every aircraft in the squadron basically has the same kit and commanders are often not flying their own ship. Who flies what is generally determined by a rotation schedule. So yes, sometimes the new guy is flying the CAG plane. In the real world, there's no such rule as the commander's plane being hotter and better equipped than any other aircraft in the squadron.

People forget that Kawamori himself was working on the design. I know most fans want to blame Bandai for everything that is wrong and believe that Kawamori is blameless. But it is a fact he was involved so any faults are equally shared. And folks please don't go into unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about how Bandai might've paid him off or screwed him over. If you want to make that claim, you've got to back it up with more than just your personal dissatisfaction. Let's remember that while Kawamori did design the VF-1 be realistic, it is still at the end of the day a fictional aircraft. I'm not sure where some folks get the idea that the VF-1 must adhere to a specific sculpt and form. The anime itself took substantial liberties and every toy has had its own share of liberties. In fact, like every/any toy of a fictional mecha, the VF-1 has seen its share of re-renderings and redesigns. I think folks have gotten so attached to the Hasegawa and Yamato sculpts that if any alternative shows up, they perceive it as being "wrong". This Bandai model is only wrong in one's own personal opinion or artistic sensibilties. It's not necessarily wrong in that it doesn't follow the design of something in real life existence or has a specific design form that Kawamori or Big West says it must follow.

One thing to note - back last Fall when the Bandai Hobby's VF-1 kit development blog site was first put up, the main entrance page's note from Kawamori does seem to infer that he wasn't going to strictly follow the linearts. This entrance page is still there.

One thing I should note from my experience. The video quality of the 2007 HD Remaster DVD looks fantastic when played on a regular CRT TV but terrible on my modern LCD HD TV (looks grainy as heck). The video quality of the 1999 DVD looks fine on the HD TV. However, do not play the 1999 DVD on an ancient cheapo DVD player like my infamous Apex AD600A. Playing it on a crap deck like my Apex will result in playback issues.

From watching the first 30 seconds, one might say this is not Version 3.0 but rather Version 6.0.

Sounds like BS. Japanese companies don't go around disrepecting highly respected figures in the anime industry. Certainly I don't recall Bandai ever having a history of doing that. And logically speaking why would Bandai want to jepardize their relationship with Kawamori when Macross F is a money making franchise for them? I recall hearing this same conspiracy theory back when the DX Chogokin V.1 was released to much disappointment

Resin garage kits are limited run products made by single guy or a handful of fans with limited resources. I personally wouldn't even know how to acquire one or consider to spend the money to get it. Thus, whether their products are utter perfection or crud, it's hard for me to actually care about them. However, Bandai is a company with tremendous resources and their products are attainable so there is a certain amount of expectation. Now that all said, you are correct in that there has been numerous renditions of the VF-1 over the decades. The toy and kit designer(s) and even Kawamori are adjusting the look of the VF-1 each time to fit their biases, ideas, and any limitations that comes in trying to make the product. Considering that we're also talking about a make-believe machine whose look in the anime and various artworks was also subject to much deforming and anime magic, I personally do not mind alternate takes. Sure, there may be some design elements I already don't like on this Bandai kit (such as the thighs in battroid form) but I'm still going to buy one. Until i get one in my hands and build it up, I'm going to try not to make too many final judgements on the product.