Mog

Man if Yamato made a Roy Focker Skull Squadron color scheme for all the valks I would buy everyone. That YF-21 looks awesome. If I was doing a Skull-1 color scheme for the YF-21, I wouldn't add that red trim on the chest/intakes. It doesn't look right for the color scheme. Instead, I'd: * Keep the yellow trim all the same as on Guld's blue YF-21. * Paint the cockpit canopy black. * Paint the all grey and light-blue parts (on Guld's blue YF-21) black. That custom's a good start. But it would need the above tweaks to make it a proper Skull-1 custom.

<Sigh> Not this again. (Hey! Why's my 1/60 VF-0S so much bigger than a 1/48 VF-1?) I've still got this sneaking suspicion that Yamato's trying to hit us with "sticker shock" now. So that when they do finally unveil their smaller, mass production version, we won't think twice about a $500 price tag. Also, I wonder if making the 1/2000 version out of less expensive materials such as ABS or regular plastic ratchet joints (instead of nylon) would help to lower the costs? (I'm no plastics expert. So please, go gentle if you have to rake me over the coals for my ignorance.) In any case, let's wait and see what develops.

Not sure if this is what you're referring to, but we mentioned this awhile back in one of the old YF-21 threads: Linky with color picture attachments. On my custom YF-21, I also "cheat" and take off the kneepads when going back into fighter mode (minimizes the paint-rub ). Doing that might help out a little bit when you're trying to get the -21 back into fighter mode.

^^I thought fag was also British slang for a cigarette?

I like this idea! --------------------------------- Thank you, Graham, for getting us an update on this whole situation. Please thank your Yamato contact too for taking the time to answer our questions and clear up the situation. If we can't get the 2-foot tall Holy Grail, maybe we'll still wind up with a 1/3000 or even a 1/2500 scale version? Oh well, we can use the extra time, money, and savings to our advantage once again.

"You know what 'brown' can do for me? He can mind his own business!"

Seriously VFTF1, you should watch the latest BSG series. Anyone who's really watched the show can tell you that a lot of Benedict's opinions about it are completely off-base. That's what's frustrating for a lot of us fans of new BSG: it's that Benedict is being critical of a series that TOTALLY GOES AGAINST how "Harvard Business School Technocrats run Hollywood." Benedict laments that "what Technocrats know is what must be removed from all business is Risk," and yet new BSG took some massive-ass risks (I'd name 'em, but Gubaba's still going through the series right now.). It's not the content of Benedict's message that we look down upon but rather what he chose as a target (the new BSG series) that a lot of us don't agree with. And the lack of MANLY characters in new BSG?! I got three words for you: Colonel FRAKKEN Tigh.

Kicker773, are you sure that's from Ghostkiller? The above pic looks like one from Wicked Ace's MW gallery: Link.

Sneaky little touch! I like it.

Is that a LED in the Strike Pack?

Hmm, Halloween, Macross, dressing up in costumes. . . This was the first thing that came to mind: Linky.

Nah, if this was a day time soap, half the Yamato employees would be sleeping with the other half (while still being married to the other half), while two bitter rival Yamato executives would constantly scheme and backstab each other to see who can get credit for the SDF-1 (completely unaware that they're half-brothers), while some distraught Yamato salaryman plots to plant bombs in all the prototype and finished SDF-1's (all because the Hory Froating Head ignored him, cut in line, and took the last ramen bowl from the vending machine), while the entire financial success or failure of Yamato utterly hinges on the release of the SDF-1! Seriously though, I wonder if Graham's gotten any additional news or clarification that he can share about these releases.

Awesome work dirtying up that AT-ST!! All we need now is Chewie popping his head out of the hatch. . . . And Shin, "Sweep the leg."

HELL YEAH!! DOWN WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT! POWER TO THE PEOPLE! FRRRCK YOU, DOLPHIN!! AND FRRRRRK YOU, WHALE!!! THE STREETS OF THE CITY SHALL RUN RED WITH THE BLOOD OF THE . . . Ooh, looky!! A new 1/60 VF-1A color variant!!

What about mentioning the Enola Gay? Talk about outdated references!

I'm sure the current state of the economy played a bit of a role in Yamato's decision. Now's not exactly the best time to be releasing an uber-expensive, Holy Grail centerpiece. Again, it sucks for us. But the businessman in me understands why Yamato's going this route.

I salute you for taking on this challenge. Please keep us posted on your progress. Are you thinking of adding the blades to the forearm armor?

Lumiya: The Good: * The swappable heads were a very nice touch by Hasbro; * The tattered cloak really adds to the overall look of the figure; and * The lightwhip is made of a flexible enough material that you can mess around with its posing options. The Frustratingly Bad: * The lack of ankle articulation absolutely, positively sucks. When you add in the lopsided weight distribution of the lightwhip and the long cloak, posing the figure becomes an adventure in balance and patience. Still . . . "Eat your heart out, Luke." Luke: I'm actually surprised at how much fun I'm having with posing this figure! I didn't think he'd be all that great, but the shoto and the articulation (ball jointed torso too!) make this a fun Luke to pose. Add in the great looking headsculpt, and you have a hidden gem of a figure. I probably won't add him to my permanent display shelf, but the figure is definitely worthy. It's also nice that we finally get a fully articulated Luke that can pull off a fairly convincing two-handed, arms slightly extended forward lightsaber pose:

So, I finally caved in and purchased the latest comic packs online (via Hasbro Toy Shop). I didn't want to constantly toy-hunt every weekend and develop an unnatural hatred towards Wedge and his comic pack. Here's my reviews and fix-ups: SIGEL DARE: Awesome articulation and a great sculpt. Her armor's a little more shiney than her male counterparts, but it's really not that bad. Unfortunately, much like her male counterparts, her hood is way too small to do any good. Her biggest drawbacks though are as follows: * The lack of an inner cloak/skirt; and * Brown (BROWN?! ) boots. Thankfully, these are very easy to rectify: Now, she blends in much nicer with the rest of her crew: DARTH KRAYT: [sarcasm mode] Other than lacking ankle articulation, this figure is the bestest, most awesome representation of Krayt EVER[/sarcasm mode]. . .except: * The armor should have been more dirty and grimey looking (and less of a uniform, flat grey look); * He lacks half of his facial tatoos; * BOTH hands are absolutely sh*tty at holding his lightsabers; * You can place both of his lightsabers on his back (like the comics), but Hasbro didn't pack him with unlit lightsabers ; * The lightsabers I got are little too clear and almost a pink color instead of blood red; and * The silver paint apps on the hilts of the sabers were too light resulting in the reddish pink of the blades peaking out on the hilts. Good thing most of these issues can be corrected: Seriously though, once modded and even without the ankle articulation, Krayt does look like an mean mofo on the display shelf. Next up, Lumiya and Luke.

The conspiracy theorist in me thinks once the economy is back in a boom, Yamato's gonna make a less expensive, mass-production release of this and price it at US$1000. . . . And many of us will be conditioned by then to say that the "lower" price is now reasonable. No doubt, Yamato has every right to price these things at whatever can give them the biggest profit. But it just sucks for us long-time collectors. As for Toynami picking up the ball? Only if they have Aoshima do all the design engineering on the puppy.

Clarification: Bayonet connected to gunpod and bullets beats butter knife.

Yup, it's a VCR/DVD combo. When it comes to most electronic/tech-type stuff, I'm a late, LATE adopter. EDIT: In any case, back to the pics. . . Even with the FP's on, the YF-21 is still one skinny-looking fighter bitch!

Granted, I'm still holding out for a TV version. But even I've gotta tip my hat to the level of detail they're already showing in these latest prototype pics. Money shot indeed, EXO!

I'm guessing it was Dr. Mrs. The Monarch (or more specifically, her butt), after she slumps into the throne in frustration. She wasn't exactly pleased when The Monarch busted out the battle armor. So after witnessing The Monarch go out of control, she probably plopped onto the trigger by accident. Would make for an interesting plot development and dilemma for 21.