CF18

OK I want to talk about external armaments. First some reference from the Mcross Mecha Manual: But none of the official line art I can find show any external armament, and of course none is shown in "Macross 2012". VF-4 is featured in PS1 game "Macross Digital Mission VF-X" and Dreamcast game "Macross M3", do it ever shown with external armament there? I am sure the VF-4 in PS2 game "SDF Macross" didn't. Then I search around a bit and found this custom model work from here: And I also found this bit from the Club M VF-4 model: That leg mounted gun is not GU-11 (the gun from VF-1) and it looks like a generic gun that Club M added. Mounting the gun off center make sense for VF-4, due to the ventral fin under the fighter nose. Basically Yamato has quite a bit of freedom in this department since VF-4 is suppose to be able carry external weapons but never animated. What I think Yamato should do with the VF-4 is to have missile mount points that is compatible with the missiles from 1:60 v2 VF-1 - one under each main wing, and two under the main body between the engine nacelles. They don't need to include the missiles - most who would order a web limited VF-4 would already have a lot of extra missiles from their VF-1 collection. And since these mount points are not on a variable geometry wing, they can make them recessed in the body v.s. extruded disc on the VF-1. The external gun is a bit tricky, but I really would like to give those hands something to hold. At the very least the hands should be able to hold a GU-11 gun. I think Yamato should at least in an adapter to mount a GU-11 gun somewhere under the body in fighter mode, unless they come up with a new gun design.

Ok so it is a toy... I think this is the first all new Yamato VF toy that is not a recolor or with special bonus part to be online shop exclusive. So they are copying from Bandai Tamashii Shop and produce new high risk model base on actual demand. Given the forever 50% off on all the VF-22 I can understand where they came from. HLJ is likely to let us pre-order it, and should save us some proxy cost. So far they only missed the magazine exclusives like weathered 1/60v2 VF-1S Hikaru (unless reissued, like VFX and Angel Bird), and the 1/60 GBP-1A Armor set with smoke effect parts. Bad for us: many here would at least wait for initial reviews to order and VF from Yamato or Bandai, since most had got broken units. With this release mode you either pre-order at regular price and take the risk of getting broken product, or wait and see and pay extreme price if it turns out to be good. Well it can happen to a general release too, like the Bandai YF-29 I missed. Graham can you get Yamato to send you and their other buddy like GA Graphic a advanced production model for preview a few weeks before closing the pre-order?

Can only find the low quality scan for now Edit: yes it's from February 2012 Dengeki Hobby magazine

HLJ tells you to use trouble@hlj.com . "parts' is for ordering extra parts. Consider sending this link too: http://samada08.blog10.fc2.com/blog-entry-1779.html Showing Bandai is sending replacement to their Japanese customers too. ++ on the strong clips between intake and body. I always use a screw driver to gently pop both legs off before doing more.

Here are some eBay listing of Takatoku with box pics. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-Macross-Robotech-1-55-Takatoku-VF-1S-1983-Japan-Transformer-Bandai-FREE-SHIP-/140651088453?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20bf754a45 http://www.ebay.ca/itm/83-Takatoku-Japan-1-55-Macross-VF-1J-Hikaru-Rick-Hunter-MIB-Robotech-chogokin-/400259335350?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3150c4b6

Broken metal bar had been reported before: http://samada08.blog10.fc2.com/blog-entry-1774.html Then he got a full replacement from Bandai later: http://samada08.blog10.fc2.com/blog-entry-1779.html Good luck with HLJ replacement.

So that's why you keep that old CRT... You should get Yamato to make some new stands that can be safely wall mounted.

I remember this discussion from 2+ years ago during the DXv1 release time. Anyway the models and toys all standardized on the way we see now.

New stuff from Bandai - Figuarts Zero Source1 Source2

Source: TAMASHII NATION（魂ネイション）2011 Facebook link from here

Still in stock here... http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN964807

He may be referring to the third part - the beam adapter that is supposed to be stored in the other leg. http://www.macross2.net/m3/macross7/vf-17s-nightmare/beamadapter.jpg

The gun is suppose to fold up in anime: http://www.macross2....unpoddetail.gif http://www.macross2....-legstorage.gif We don't know how well it works in the toy yet.

Here is another shop I have no experience with for 5800 yen each: http://biginjap.com/...enewal-ver.html http://biginjap.com/...enewal-ver.html Edit: This one also has a eBay store with similar price: http://stores.ebay.com/biginjap-com http://www.anime-export.com/ should sell them too. No they have no history of carrying any limited items from Bandai's web shop. Only HLJ made special arrangement with Yamato to carry their limited items without extra mark-up.

There are people doing group buy in the for sale forum here. Other proxy: Tokyo Hunter already listed them: http://www.tokyo-hunter.com/category/sci-fi/action-figures/product/super-parts-dx-chogokin-vf-25f-alto-custom-renewal-ver http://www.tokyo-hunter.com/category/sci-fi/action-figures/product/super-parts-dx-chogokin-vf-25s-ozma-custom-renewal-ver http://www.dv8cag.com/ see: http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=33438 I have no experience with other proxy service. These stores from HK will likely have limited stock for pre-order: http://www.angolz.com/ http://www.toy-wave.com/

It is someone fitting the Tornado pack made for DXv1 on the DXv2. Some had posted about that here recently, with modding instruction posted here: http://gbmshop.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-equip-tornado-pack-ver1-on-vf.html

The only Hikaru VF-1S in this sale is the 1:48 re-issue, the 1:60v2s are all VF-1A. My 1:60v2 VF-1S Hikaru from last sale doesn't have shoulder issue, but it has old style crotch lock.

http://www.macross2.net/m3/macrossplus/x9-ghost.htm vs

May be Yamato can release Ghost X-9 with Super part as a small model kit like the Fan Racer. Does it even has landing gear?

I am glad Gamu-toys get back to Toy blogging again. He has some of the best photos. DX YF-29 http://gamu-toys.inf...x17/dx1701.html http://gamu-toys.inf...x17/dx1702.html http://gamu-toys.inf...x17/dx1703.html DX v2 VF-25F http://gamu-toys.inf...x18/dx1801.html http://gamu-toys.inf...x18/dx1802.html http://gamu-toys.inf...x18/dx1803.html

So we are talking about 3 options: Low vis v1, Low vis v2 and Stealth. For the released versions, the Stealth 1J got the best attention to detail - even the UUM-7 missile box got matching color.

I will go with WTF: 1:60 VF-25S DXv1 Armored and Hi-Metal VF-19S - can't install the gun in fighter mode? WTF was they thinking?

Reissue the 1S, or make new 1A or 1J are all fine, but I want a stealth super/strike pack to go with it.

If they have doubts, show them these VE-1 sold for US$300+ http://www.ebay.com/...&_dmd=1&_ipg=50 VT-1 is a bit less crazy but still one sold for US$270 http://www.ebay.com/csc/i.html?_nkw=vt-1+60+macross&_sacat=0&_sop=12&_dmd=1&LH_Complete=1&_odkw=vt-1+60+macross&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

I think the proportion looks OK. The only problem I have is the big area of internal white color showing at the knee joints. It may be a miss transform since in all other VF you only extend the knee joints for gerwalk mode, but given the ankle guard location I guess it's not the case. If it has to be this way then please paint that area to the same dark blue. It's a stealth fighter so at least make it looks like one.