Vifam7

I don't think the YF-29 is supposed to have them. The YF-29 is supposed to be a Tornado-parts included design. Ie. it doesn't require additional add-on parts - the Tornado system is already there.

From my readings it's not like they had to be told from fans that the VF-25 was sub-par. Keep in mind, the staffers too are fans and they, like us, have similar desires and also read message boards (not necessarily this one). But it always helps to get and acknowledge fan input. There have also been some notes about Bandai hiring a different contractor when the DX VF-27 was being designed. I forget the name. But one can tell that a completely different team was at work on the DX VF-27 compared to the DX VF-25.

Macross 7 would've been so much full of win had it looked like that! The mouth hate has been around since the broadcast of Macross 7 Episode 1. There are folks who don't mind it and folks who detest it. The reason why some don't like it is because it gives the mecha a 70's "super robot" look than the "real robot" look that was popular in the 80's. Since Macross was/is considered the pinnacle of "real robot" anime, there was/is alot of rejection to the mawkishness of Macross 7 which includes the mouth and the Ronald McDonald colors of the Fire Valk.

Maybe I'll put on some K-On! stickers and pretend it's Mio or Azu-nyan piloting instead that jerk Basara.

The graph has nothing to do with the development of the toys. The 1/72 YF-25 Prophesy kit is pointing to the DX Alto. The DX Alto is pointing to the 1/100 YF-29 kit and the 1/72 Tornado kit. This is a graph in terms of how the mecha have evolved from the YF-24.

Regarding the DX line, in short the Collector's Division interviewee says something to the order that the DX line had been a learning process from the VF-25 to the VF-27, and now to the YF-29. Learning with each toy as well as receiving feedback from customers. Apparently customers have wrote to Bandai saying - "make the VF-25 like the VF-27". The interviewee says if the opportunity is there, they'd like to look into brushingup the VF-25 toy. Customers have also wrote in for new Valkyrie toys and ofcourse that's another area they'd like to consider. As for the Hi-Metal line, for now they're going to focus on main character Valkyries - with the next ones being the Macross Plus YF-19 and YF-21. There's also strong demand for a VF-25 in the Hi-Metal lineup. The YF-29 perfect transfomation model kit will come out after the DX toy. The Hobby Division* rep says he wants it to be the ultimate representation of the YF-29. The interviewer says he wants a Perfect Grade VF-25 kit. The interviewee says how about a Real Grade kit. *Note: Bandai's "Collector's Division" handles the DX and Hi-Metal toy lines. Bandai's "Hobby Division" handles the plastic model lines. Like I wrote above, nothing concrete. But it does give one a small insight to how the respective divisions of Bandai are thinking/feeling.

Estimated as June 2011. The scans CF18 provided is appreciated. There's a lot of interesting topics covered in the Figure Oh articles -such as the wish to redo the VF-25, possibly doing other Valkyries in the DX line, future of the Hi-Metal line, the 1/72 YF-29 kit, a Real Grade Valkyrie kit, and plans for the 30th anniversary of Macross. Nothing concrete though. Just a lot of wishful thinking/wanting by Bandai reps.

No. They call the armed forces Bundeswehr (Federal Defense Forces). The army is called the Deutsches Heer.

If the computer is programmed correctly, it should be more reliable and safer than a human being.

IMO much of that want for horsepower goes out the window when you have to commute to work (ie. drive in rush hour traffic for over a hour - Monday through Friday). You start to care more about comfort, ameneties, reliability, and fuel economy.

What they did was vote to cancel the alternative engine (the GE/RollsRoyce F136).

So I'm guessing you don't like the BMW X5M and X6M?

All of them are great. Tought choice but I think Porco Rosso (Kurenai no Buta) is my favorite. That opening scene is great. I'd love to have a secluded island base from which I flyout a seaplane. Ofcourse, who could forget the lines - "I'd rather be a pig than a fascist." "A pig that doesn't fly is just a pig."

But then we're talking about an animeworld that says strapping a SRBM on the top and bottom of an aircraft is a good idea. VF-11B Booster

It's difficult to improve driver standards. Especially in America where the car is considered indispensable. Raise the standards and I'll bet you'll hear the biggest protests from the worst drivers -> teenagers, the elderly, and SUV drivers. The problem isn't the cars IMO. It's people who are unwilling to take any responsibility for their mistakes. Ie. "It's not my fault. It's XXXXX's fault. It's time to sue somebody."

Logically speaking, it's highly unlikely. The HCM was designed over 25 years ago. The people who worked on the HCM would've long retired or moved onto different positions by now. I suppose it possible that maybe one guy from the HCM design team were in a management position to oversee the Hi-Metal project, but that's just wild conjecture.

As Noyhauser wrote above, these kits do not build up easy. In other words, you're going to have to glue, sand, and paint. These are not the snap-fit wonderkits of today. That said, there aren't many pieces so they come together rather quickly. Great for painting experiments and learning how to build traditional kits.

You'll probably want to stay away from anything bigger than 1/100 scale. The first 2 are 1/72 scale. They will be significantly bigger. Not sure what you mean by "HGs" but I'm assuming 1/144 scale HG Gundam kits. In that case, you'll mostly want to stick to 1/144 scale Macross kits - like the VF-17S and Nousjadeul Ger you linked to in the first post.

The problem is not in the building or modding part. It's the selling/profiteering part and the volume of it that usually get companies to come after you. You have every right to build and mod a Wave VF-1J kit in any way you want. However, once you start selling the built and modded kits, yes Big West can potentially come after you IF Big West thinks you're profiteering too much from the Macross First property. I think most of the time, Japanese companies do tend to look the other way in regards to fan-made items. I mean look at the massive doujinshi market. I don't know where the theshold line is but obviously there comes a point where the rights holder decides a fan has gone too far with their property (particularly in terms of profiteering from it).

Not necessarily. You can sell mods but you might not have the right to sell the characters. Look at this way - if you were to mod Yamato's 1/60 Valkyries to make your own Sound Force customs and started regularly selling them to huge profits without Big West or Kawamori's approval, there is a chance they'd come after you. Because while you can sell modded Valks, you can not sell Sound Force. Also, you can get away with selling a few but once it starts to become a profit making business, that's when the rights holders tend to send the lawyers.

If you want to see some bad cheapy Gundam kits look at the 1/144 First Grade 00, and 'no grade' 1/144 Seed kits.

Not to defend Toei but there may have been other extenuating circumstances as to why these particular customizers were arrested. For example, it seems like the characters that the customizers made are of Toei property. So while the guys have the right to make customizations they don't quite have the right to sell the characters. Another thing that might have gotten the guys in trouble was that the modded toys were sold (according to the 2nd link) at the extraordinarily high prices. The 1st one on the link sold at 269,001 JPY. That's over $3000 USD. Now I know customs like this are truly special but selling a modified toy to earn $3000 is sure to draw attention.

Nonsense. It's all about marketing. Bandai quite often does this kind of lower priced "non-grade" level or simple to build kits with Gundam as well. Prices always tend to be higher for Macross products as toy makers like Bandai do not wholly own the Macross property.

How about... <- Roy Fokker? That's not Roy Fokker... This is Roy Fokker -> Roy Fokker imposter with forgettable scientist chick Real Roy Fokker with Claudia

Yeah, it is indeed really hard to find Tamiya Primer right now. Light sanding plus using any kind of white or light gray flat spray works just as well though