Renato

So, you're saying that in a media property full of inconsistencies, the one thing which remains constant throughout is the death wish the world continues to bestow upon Mr. Bay? Huh, that's like the silver lining.

For an incomplete toy. You need to pay through the nose for stupid limited sets with things like landing and FISTS, etc. if you want a proper toy of the 19.

I have to agree. Last weekend at the Yamato showroom there were a few of these out for play, and they are really heavy, really good quality plastic and die-cast toys. It feels really good in the hand, and I like the tiny details -- EVERYTHING moves, when you move the joints, the little pistons/hydraulics move too. Like Graham, though, Zoids is not my thing. For people saying that "Yamato has no faith in the SDF-1", don't forget they can only market that toy in Japan, unlike everything else. I'm sure we'd see a lot lower prices all round and higher production numbers if it weren't for several circumstances which belong in a certain other thread...

It's just over a week now, isn't it?

Do we even know what the ACTIVE looks like in Battroid mode? I voted for the P.

I heard the first half this morning. I enjoy listening to podcasts like these, and this is the second or third Fwoshcast I have listened to. Overall I like it, and I hope it gives a bit of a clearer picture to someone who is curious regarding this hobby but overwhelmed by all the valks available now. I do have to nitpick a bit, though. First of all, aren't you confusing Takatoku with Tasunoko in the opening post? Little things like that pop up all over in the podcast as well, e.g. Macross II was 6 episodes not "three or four", Yamato was not "doing figures and stuff" before moving on to transformable toys (the 1/72 YF-19 was their first actual self-produced product -- you may be getting confused with the situation with Beagle which fits that description when they did the Mospeada), etc etc... That said, I'm really looking forward to the next installment! I would add as a suggestion that you include the other regular guy -- I realize he was excluded due to his lack of knowledge on Macross, but it would be worthwhile to have that kind of person on there just so you guys know you're going at the correct pace for "Mac-virgins" to keep up.

Yeah, they're die-cast friction ball joints.

Toppled over in Battroid mode while I was out and the main wing hinge (the one connected to the backplate) is split. Still attached and moves, though, so nothing is impeded, which is good. So far. Seriously, though, this toy is becoming a floppy mess like my other DX, the Michel. If the limbs were stiff enough to hold a pose this would look really cool but it's just ectoplasm now. Come to think of it, I'm sure it wouldn't have fallen over if the joints weren't so loose.

I had a go on this today and it's OK, it feels a bit like Armored Core, I think it was developed by From Software, right? It has absolutely nothing on MUF, though. I only played as the Layzner (don't care for the other mecha -- WHY IS THERE NO ORGUSS??), and I just don't feel that there is a sense of speed and/or heft to the mecha, or a sense of urgency in the gameplay. I remember when I first picked up Mac Ace Frontier and it was like a total blur for two minutes, I didn't know what happened, as if someone put my PSP on fast-forward. I'm too used to that now, there's no way I can go back to boring slow robots. It's not intrinsically bad, but not a must-buy unless you care about any of the robots. Plus the graphics on MUF seem better to me.

Mine broke today, LOL.

Mac Ace is a really minor publication, so I'm not at all surprised. Regarding the dates and whatnot, I've been hearing a lot of things recently behind the scenes that the editing staff are a bunch of amateurs, and not even up to that level. Remember how they skimped on the Noboru Ishiguro and Noriko Ohara columns in issue 6? Yeah, that's just the tip of the iceberg, apparently. I'm going to keep buying it, but I don't expect it to improve much...

Between having dinner with Mr. Noboru Ishiguro and going to the Yamato Showroom, this was a really good weekend. Yeah, those are gold Megazone discs on the wall.

Heh, I drew that. Yamato was like: "Oh...yeah. THAT thing." Then this other (non-Yamato) guy and I debated the transformation: "No, the arms are between the legs in Gerwalk and stowed in Flyer mode!" "Oh are they? Oh, yeah!" Then h whipped out his iPhone and started playing THE SHADOW CHRONICLES ON IT so I promptly left.

Go for it! That Akihabara video didn't come out the way I wanted, I think I'm going to re-edit and re-upload it later.

A day in the life. Breaking the Macross: Out on the town:

Really?? Don't remember that either! I'll have to try it out.

It has more to do with "School Mo(d)e". Apparently some of the original characters are students and some are teacher/instructors.

Gah! I checked the site only a few hours ago and it wasn't updated! Huh, I never noticed they were missing up to now I believe that was "LORD EMPEROR INGUES". Oooohhh.. fear. As for the Academy thing, I think that may be the main way your pilot gets skills now. Not sure, though.

Who knows, it could even be green for all we know. But the TV version was the brightest shade shown...

LOL. I didn't even notice the VF-17 sheet. It's really hilarious that my drawing of the Orguss is being seen all around the world now.

Sounds like a challenge.

Sad thing is people get paid for that, right? I mean, that is an actual legit site, isn't it? I'd like to make easy money like that. Best films ever list: 2001 A Space Oyssey: Can David defeat the evil spaceship, "HAL 2000"? Find out in this exciting sci-fi adventure! Back to the Future: Journey to the future as Marty McFry wakes up in the year 3000 and has to stop himself from being born. The timeless 1970s comedy classic, starring that kid from Growing Pains. The Third Man: Follow Rosebud as he tries to find the whereabouts of the first and second men. Spider-Man: When Bruce Wayne is bitten by a radioactive mutant, he gains super powers, and decides to live as a crimefighter by night, and a woman by day -- all the while under the watchful eye of the Evil Professor Xavier. Starring William Shatner. Howzat? Do I got a job or wot?

You bet they are -- so much so that they put him twice on the original poll! I wanted to say something, but I'm not a member. Also, to play devil's advocate for a bit, where is Kaneda's Bike? EDIT-- Here is the page with the two "BATMEN": http://collectiondx.com/poll/toty_2010_best_action_figure

It seems this is not the final colour. For some reason they're not in the photos, but on the shelf in front of the Fire Valk, there were four pieces (which happen to be the calf covers of the 1/24 Ingram) coloured in various shades of red (though all very similar at first glance). When I asked a Yamato employee about them, he said that they were colour tests for the Valkyrie. Apparently, they took this painted prototype over to BigWest, who promptly said "That's not the colour, change it!" Even though Yamato had matched it to what appears onscreen in the show. Then they showed Kawamori, who said "Yeah, that's the colour in the SHOW... buuuuuut it's not the REAL colour, sorry!" So now Yamato is at a loss and has resorted to just displaying samples and asking for opinions from people like us. I found it funny that BW has given the OK to commence production of things that don't look anything like a Valkyrie (Revoltechs?), but they get hang up on colours. Also, Save: "Didn't you know that there is supposed to be a giant ball joint in the chest?? Re-design!!"

Nah, of course not, that was just a joke. It just happened to be the first day of reopening the streets to the public since they that incident. Every Sunday until June, roads will be closed to traffic and open to pedestrians again. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110124a3.html Tochiro and I were interviewed and asked to comment on the happenings. I was interviewed by Tokyo MX News, but it seems I was cut from the programme. According to Save I was too spiteful. I have good reason, we were almost arrested, you know! Tochiro may appear in the Yomiuri Shimbun, though, so looking forward to that.