KOG Water Dragon

It is. The only thing I can think of is to ship it with a bunch of other stuff to spread the cost around. It should be less to ship it as a piece of a larger shipment than to ship it solo.

I rather like the turquoise canopies...

Looks friggin' great. Pre-ordered.

got it, thanks

What's the difference in the arms again?

I did a lot of the old Arii 1/100 fighters/gerwalks/battroids back in the late 80s/early 90s. Even back then as a young fellow, I was troubled by the differences in proportions between the modes. Nose cones being different shapes, chonky battroid legs compared to sleek fighter legs, etc.

Armor up to the shoulder is one thing. Armor up to the TOP of the shoulder is a little different. Anyways, I just know I like a battroid that looks like actual pieces of the fighter, and convincingly looks like it COULD turn back into a fighter if it wanted to. Some battroids are so changed and anime-ish that if you chopped up the pieces and re-assembled into a fighter, you just know it would look hilarious. With a stubby nose, tiny wings, etc.

I like the PLAMAX. I do. It's got that nostalgic anime feel. But I also notice some things I don't like. The jet intake/vent area looks really short and stubby. Doesn't look like how it would look in fighter mode. IMHO. The arm armor pieces go really high up, pretty much to the top of the shoulders. I don't think other versions look like that. And I don't think the lineart looks like that. Hasegawa's are shorter and I think I prefer that. The gigantic hands which just really don't look like they'd fit into the arms easily. Just some small nitpicks. I do like the bigger feet.

Other than wanting original show/DYRL Zentran and Meltran ships to go with the available SDF-1 kits... I'm sort of thinking that other Macross/SDF type ships from later series have the best shot at getting kits from Hasegawa or whoever? I apologize, I don't know all the ships that well, but stuff like Macross Quarter, Macross Frontier, Elysion, Grasion, Megasion, etc. I'd love a Macross Cannon from Macross II but... unlikely.

Well. Got notice from HLJ that they have a HG VF-31C for me. But I'm in backorder for the 1 DX version and 1 decal set they allowed me to pre-order. Darn. Local shops, here I come (again).

The artwork also prominently features a ship. Ships incoming?

I think I'd prefer something in 1/72... probably Wave or Max Factory.

I'm sort of assuming the box art for VT-1D will be representing the camping scene, so maybe the lighting will make sense in context? I do miss the Hidetaka Tenjin art though. The VF-11 w/ booster rocket box art isn't bad.

Indeed! The Wave 1/72 VF-171 series was very welcome. Would be nice if they'd add a battroid selection but I'm not holding my breath. Even moreso I'd like them to finally do a 1/72 & 1/100 Destroid Spartan. Max Factory seems to be nearing the end of what they can do with the VF-1 (still need Max and Miria VF-1J though), so Macross 7 seems to be the next focus. Will be interesting to see what Bandai does with the HG line once the VF-31 and VF-25 variants are released. That will take a while though. Hoping they will do VF-11. Not sure what else they would consider. Maybe Macross 7 since the Max Factory stuff is 1/72, and the HG line is 1/100. Would be nice to see VF-19 and VF-17 variants in the HG line. I guess they still have the option to dip into Macross Zero (VF-0) as well. And lastly, maybe adversaries from Macross Zero (SV-51), Macross Frontier (VF-27), and Macross Delta (SV-262). The adversary option could be the most exciting. Hasegawa is where I really see some gaps I want filled. 1/48 YF-21. 1/48 VF-1D. 1/48 VT-1 and VE-1 would be amazing. 1/72 YF-21 battroid. 1/72 VF-11 battroid. And I know it's not likely, but I'd welcome new plastic kits from Macross II, from any company.

What are the odds they'll do the fighter version of this variant?