Neova

I'm cleaning up the list and removing all requests for BP8's and VF-1S heads due to Rohby's fine recast parts. For folks who are still on the list, I have VF-1J or 1A that will be parted soon. Please go through your requests and update it if you still need parts, or delete your post if don't need parts. For the last 5 or so guys, you don't need to edit your post.

Dayam! Nice looking bird there...

I am (when I have time) going to the same too. Checkout Cambodian Tire's great custom pilot for color reference. I have no idea on the paint code right now.

Did you mean the color codes for specific brands of paint or just paint recommendations in general? I would say get a good primer and use either Tamiya acrylics, Mr. Color (Gunze), or Testors Model Master line of paints. I need to dig out my M7 kits to give you some colors codes for Canon colors.

Personally, I really like the mech designs in Macross II. I liked it a lot more earlier, before I saw M7 (still not done yet). The Metal Siren in concept is great. I really wish it was drawn better and the same for the VF-2SS. I would love to see scans of the Mechs from TIAS : Macross II and really see how it SHOULD have looked. I loved the Music. Kicks Ass. I like the Character designs, cept for Hibiki who was annoying as fawk in the beginning. I actually liked Basara more than Hibiki! (Hides from Agent One - heh) but near the end, Hibiki began to grow up. Silvie Gena, Nexx and Ishtar were all great characters. Feff rocks as an opponent. The story line of the Marduk controlling the Zentradies... awesome... I want to see the Marduk go up against Bolzer's fleet and the Varutians from M7. Would make a great war story. I would feel sorry for the UN Spacy Fleet caught in the middle of that 3 way rumble. The Macross there rocked too. The things I didn't like were the inconsistencies in the drawings from scene to scene. To me, M2's mechs looked like Jack Kirby drew them, which stood out against the more anime'ish backgrounds and characters. When compared to M+, the budget obviously shows and is typical to any OVA during that time. Quality wise, it was not as good as DYRL, M+ , or M:0. Its about on par or less than M7s OVA quality (not the Movies). If Kawamorie had blessed M2 and did a remake of it the story under his own direction, I can see it rocking pass even DYRL but not M+. For now, I would love it if The_Major and his team working on the Homeworld 2 Macross mod to incorporate some of the mechs into that game.

I voted removable landing gears and doors. And Rusty's picture on the first page the of the Custom Super Nova from Model Graphix is THE reference YF-19 for me. Now add the FPs and crank it out already! BTW: Who modeled that? Its not the same guy that was hired to revise the YF-19 for Yamato correct? Model Graphix June 2002 from MW

Great links Pat! And I do have to agree with Jesse though. Master Cheng's YF-19 and YF-21 are the best I've seen (so far).

Looks good to me. Right up there with the Blue Roses custom and M7 VF-17 S/Ds! I'll take it. Anybody have BIGGER and more detailed pics of this? Would looks great with Fast Packs.

I get asked a lot (other dealers probably do too) if Yamato will re-issue the VF-1S and thats a big maybe. As a business, if there is enough demand, they will, provided the factory can produce enough. If there are still stock available or if the demand is actually low but voiced loudly by the vocal majority but consists of a very small number of people, say a few hundred, there probably won't be another run. I'm guessing its the latter cuz the Macross market is actually very very small compared to the other markets Yamato is branching into. I'm pretty sure the minimum order is around 2K (small run) to 5K (normal run) cuz those are industry standards and realistically, I think only a world wide release would soak up that 2K order. If you asked Yamato to ramp up the production for a few hundred VF-1S vs a few thousand of another line, you'll get laughed out of the factory. Now, if Yamato was to re-release another variant of 1S, then it would be very easy for them to re-issue Roy, Hikaru, Max and others in one consolidated shot cuz its just a repaint of the same plastic. Best bet would be to hope for a limited custom version 1S to be followed by re-issues and why not? I can see this happening. We had the Low Viz 1A, and now the Stealth 1J. We need a custom 1S to finish off the Holy Trinity so bet on that to bring more 1S to the table. Xmas possibility then? If it was planned by Yamato before and green lit now, definately possible. Any later? Don't bet on it with all the new toys scheduled to be released. My suggestion: Buy it while you can.

Pat, Can you do a side by side comparison of the 1/48 Imai Kit vs the Toynami? I have the Imai kits also and wonder if I should just stick with them and add mods or really consider the Toynami Alpha and attempt to fix the problems. Which one looks best in fighter, gerwalk and battroid mode? Fit and finish (I know the Imai is more delicate) and overall details?

I never intended to say either Captain America or Felix "has an upper hand". I think both of them are right about the issue here, just that each is contributing his own experiences to the discussion here. I personally work in IT Quality Management, and I can honestly tell you most upper management view QC measures as a necessary evil... something they don't want to spend effort on, yet is forced to do due to company policy. Of course, politically they smile and wave and cheer whenever a QC initiative kicks off... Given what Felix said, it's highly unlikely a Chinese manufacturer taking on this job as a part-time filler will be willing to expend much on QC measures, and probably will negotiate harshly with Toynami to reduce these as low as possible. The sad part about these kind of outsourcing is that the manufacturer simply takes no pride in the work they do; since they change the products they manufacture in a regular fashion, and also in this case they are unlikely they will ever get to buy a MPC Alpha for their children, it is reduced to a matter of numbers. As in, number of dollars earned per unit produced, and number of units produced. No need to involve pride or work ethnics here. I'm starting to ramble about the evils I see in my work, so I better stop. ... QA from the get go (checking the molds, tooling, plastic quality, pigments, fit and finish of prototypes) and QC during and at the end of production go hand in hand. I fully blame Toynami for the complaints thrown at them. They have enough experience to know how much QA/QC is needed (5 veritech revisions) and absolutely know if they were either willing to pay for it and take in less profits or raise prices to compensate, or just don't give a poo and blow out the product as is. I say its profits and don't care. Also, NO Chinese factory takes pride in their outsourced work and most don't care about their own work. Its all about who will pay that 0.03 - 0.05 USD OT to ensure proper QA/QC since the tooling is own by the design company. I mean, the factorys already house and feed the workers picked off the streets. Really. My experience tells me Toynami either looked at their profit margins and / or have poo management that didn't / couldn't neogtiate better terms for their own products. The MPC Alpha was not designed to be a sub 20 USD RETAIL toy but was made just like one. Greed and management ineptude reeks here. I only feel bad for the designers that got duped into the project. They must be pulling their hair out like the fans here. Bottom line: Toynami had a choice to make a better product with thier design. They could have contracted the same factories Bandai, Takara and Yamato used earlier this year or last year. Its too late now cuz most Chinese plants are in their peak manufacturing to make xmas and won't be able to take on new projects. Advice to Toynami : Move your tools to a new factory, pay for the QA/QC or lower the price of the product before you get hit with markdown charge backs which will kill you.

Dio is correct! Does anyone have the Mac II RPG Book scans? I don't have it. Would really appreciate it. So many customs, so little time...

Does any one out there have schematics or scans of the hangers in either the ARMDs, Daedalus or Promethius? I would love to get more info on more updated hangers (eg. Valhalla or Macross 7) if possible. Look at how the Valks, fly in, land, refuel, reload, prep for launch, then launch back out into battle.

Put me down for a ghost and 4 sets of weapons!

I have access to a full blown print shop. If the quantities can support it, I can have it printed professionally for cheap. Unfortunately, I'm located in HK so it may be a bear for some folks. Its an option for you guys and I can help. I have Paul's beautiful boxes and would love to have matching DVD covers.

Guppy, I got both here and will send one out to you with your next purchase. I need to compile a list of HK MWers who needs this and will place the order. Just PM me and I'll workout the details with Rohby.

If someone has some cleaned up scans, I can make a bunch at cost and blow them back out. Ideally a Macross Hanger or Aircraft Carrier Hanger. Looks cool for a printout and foam core, but not for almost 30 bux.

I have both pieces here with me. I didn't get a chance to stick it onto aValkyrie yet, but will do so this weekend with FPs. I flexed the hell out of the color matched versions using my fingers (thumb and index finger) trying to snap it but nothing happened. No stress marks either. It is flexible and forms its original shape fast. I like it cuz the flexing soaks up the stress and keeps it from breaking. The super hard one is what I recommend to everyone who does custom work. It is way harder and not as a brittle as the original. The only problem is the color but for customizers, who cares? Paint it! I need to get a bunch for myself. I will try to post pics if Rohby doesn't. Highly recommended!

Hong Kong's Hasegawa agent is useless when it comes to Macross. It took two months after the release of the SV-51 for any kits to make it to HK. Graham Hong Kong's Hasegawa wholesaler does not actively import Macross kits, and if they do, its because it was slipped into an order. All of the Macross Zero kits came from grey market importers so far... Good think I snapped up the re-issue VF-1 Super/Strike set and VF-0Bs as soon as I saw them. I'm glad there were a few model shops that did import these kits on their own.

What he said and get cranking on those 1/48 2 seater VF-1xs so we can finish off our Valkyrie collection and move on to 1/48 enemies and Macross Zero / VFX Valks already.

Lonewolf, You just screwed up my view of Yamato's VB-6 because I agree with everything you said. Looks like theres gonna be some HEAVY custom work to be done on this toy when it comes out cuz I doubt there will be a 1/72 or 1/60 "perfect" grade version as a followup. Yamato, stop wasting our time and just do the one perfect sculpt now and get it over with already. Fistful of American dollars waiting for you.

Greg, You, your daughter and your family have my deepest sympathies. We are all here with you in spirit. God bless and be strong fellow MW'er.

Awesome Grayson! I have the Arii kit here too waiting to be kitbashed... Hopefully one day when I can actually find the time to do this between my jobs!

Thanks Graham! I just saved a few bux!

Which kit were you taking about? The Bandai EX 1/100 kits, Platz 1/72 resin kits or the 1/144 Yellow Submarine kits/toys (I forgot which)? HLJ.com should have a few