Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0

Heh sounds like a bootleg toyline of the A team. I think it'd be better if LEGO just gets Kawamori to design an all new set rather than a concoction of 2 existing sets. That way they can implement the necesary bricks to make it more stable. And that YF21 on brickshelf that someone linked is AWESOME.

I can try to answer that one. This is just my theory but the ELINT and SUper O both would require a completley redesigned cockpit and forward fueselage and chestplate and perhaps internal folding heatshield assembly. If you notice, nearly all the 1/48s released are just repaints, nothing newly tooled aside from the A/J/S heads. Also there are not that many repaint possibilities for an ELINT or SUper O. To retool the existing 1/48 into those 2 would require a lot of tooling and mold modifications, so in the end it would be putting a lot of money into making 2 variants that don't have that much screen time and would probably be more expensive in retail than the koenig monster and supervalk VF-1J giftsets. And is there a gurantee that it would sell? To an average fan an average fan would probably want the more popular toys, I think diehards like us that compromise most of this forum would be the only ones buying the super O and ELINT seeker. They just don'thave the selling power and recognition unlike valks like skull1 and the max types. This doesn't mean I don't want them, I'd LOVE to have them. But in the end its a huge investment into 2 toys that would likely become shelf warmers. All the 1/48s we have seen so far are "financially safe" to release simply because again they are not retooled at all and simply repaints with different heads. And of course from just that 1st VF-1A hikaru mold look how many toys we got. the 1/60 versions were less of a gamble since they were smaller and cheaper to produce. But who knows. I wish I knew the answer and I hope what I said helps. But just remember the average fan would probably stare at it and say "what the hell are these 2?". The reason you see most of us bitchin for a DYRL super O and ELint reissues from bandai is due to the fact that we know they have made them before. But with yamato none of these toys have made it to 1/48 scale. I mean think, if a VF-1D is hard to convert into 1/48 scale with internal heatshield and still keep perfect variability, IMAGINE how hard it would be to convert the 1/48 molds into a Super o and elint knowing that the cockpits are different than even the 2 seat VF-1D. But who knows next year is the 25th anniversary. But again I hope this helps. I don't know the true answer, but this is the best theory I can come up with.

I'm in favor of canning the FB-22 and just modding the bays of the vanilla F-22 to accomodate the bays and doors that would have been on the FB. Theres a lot of potential in the F-22, and unlike the JSF, its got a lot MORE space to work with. Add on external stores once the air defenses are killed in the beginning days of the war and then you have a potent iron bomber with long range that can fight its way in and out possibly a lot better than the present day F-15E can. If the F-22A has more avionics and weapon systems upgrades, then perhaps more F-22s can be bought, some to replace F-15E's. This would make the air force happier and would be cheaper than making a delta winged FB-22. And if they kill off the JSF thats more money for the F-22, and a more capable multirolerl.

Yea someone at tmp had told me about the ball jointed legs a while back. I was kinda iffy on that as well. The real reason I like the HCM is that it had a good amount of detail and somewhat superior sculpting than the takatoku 1/55 yet it was SMALLER too!! A good size. And the most important thing is that it could STILL hold the missles onto the wings when the wings were sweeped back in battroid mode. This was very impressive. I mean the size, the box, the articulation and detail on it must have been paramount back when it was released in the mid 80s. Although I like my MPCs I too would want HCms. And I thought SOLID WASN'T Nishikawa. Isn't liquid stone the same company that did a resin YF19@wonderfest last year? I thought liquid stone and IHP were lead by the same guy, not Nishikawa. SOLID worked on VOTOMS. And I believe the GPS as well.

Yea someone at tmp had told me about the ball jointed legs a while back. I was kinda iffy on that as well. The real reason I like the HCM is that it had a good amount of detail and somewhat superior sculpting than the takatoku 1/55 yet it was SMALLER too!! A good size. And the most important thing is that it could STILL hold the missles onto the wings when the wings were sweeped back in battroid mode. This was very impressive. I mean the size, the box, the articulation and detail on it must have been paramount back when it was released in the mid 80s. Although I like my MPCs I too would want HCms.

The vanforce concoction or the individual lego sets themselves?

For the HCM's I heard the molds were lost in the ocean during a boating accident. There are key differences between the HCM and MPC, the HCM's nose is huge, and the tailfins looked too small. Also there are ball joints in the hips(someone@tmp told me this long ago) and there could be a bit more. And the HCM does not have its rear end sticking up as much as the MPC does. I like my MPC's but I'd also want HCM's its a piece of history! Also zincpanic was saying something a while back.. "Promising 2006 will be a stronger year for Bandai's venerable Soul of Chogokin line than ever, brand manager Nonaka drops hints regarding upcoming releases ... * "Xabungle Size" * "Standard Size" * "Large Size" You could guess that the first two are Walker Galliar and Gold Lightan. The third may be the real mystery. Daitan 3? Ideon? Iron Gear? Or is it all code for Gardian ... with a Bikungfu recolor? Here's a list of big robots, starting at the top and working down: Macross, Danguard, Gunbuster, Iron Gear, Mechanda, Daitan, Daikengo, Diapolon, Ideon, Baldios, Groizer, God Sigma ... then we're at Zanbot." And remember SOC had the eva mecha yet those were not super robots, and aquerion was kind of SOC like, so I think there might be SOC macross stuff....but who knows. I think if anyone could take on yamato it'd be bandai.

I think if bandai reissues valks it will be with the new sculpt heads, that were in prototype form only that sadly did not make it to production. Xstoys had a few samples. I'd also like DYRL reissues....the big 3 that never came out. Along with the reissues I'd like a new SOC type smaller scale line, maybe 1.72? I'd want a diecast qrau in this line as well as the VF-1 and maybe the macross 0 valks. Come on think about it, a 1/72 scale DIECAST qrau SOC style. DROOL!!! And if anyone can do perfect variability and diecast its bandai. So the new SOC style valks could be called "NEO HCM". I too hope for a new VF11B toy. We have seen what Billy Wong could do with it. Imagine what NIshikawa or SOLID could do with it!! Imagine one with internal folding heatshield, BIGGER accurate scaled vertical fins....drool. Now THAT I would want to see in a 1/48!! And if yamato ever gets the macross 7 license, then we get 2 potential variants!! Possibly 4 if Yamato were to get the M3 license(didn't max and milia have VF-11s in that game?) I would also want a YF19FP and new tooled YF-21.....I mean a sleeker tighter jointed YF-21 would be GREAT. The billy wong version was rather chunky. And I heard a bunch of complaints on its stability. I woiuld also like all 3 of these macross plus toys in 1/60 scale, bigger size=more durability, more detail, more room for yamato to work with, PLUS same scale as the VF-`1 line and the macross VF-0 toy yamato is putting out in spring and the qrau. Deep inside I'd also like a 1/18 scale high detail VF-1 but the chances of that....hhhhaha I bet noone will do this. I wish though. Oh and also, I'd bet either yamato or bandai will do an SDF-1 of some sort next year. By the time that happens I'm sure all of us would be saying... "BOUT TIME HUH?"

From what I understand Art asylum either lose the license or chose not to renew it. They still have the license for marvel though, and are doing minimates on battlestar galactica(WITH vehicles!), street fighter(just out), and speed racer and a couple others. For what its worth I think art asylum did a good job on the batman license, tis a shame they never put out the batman begins c3 stuff they designed, the designs were awesome. I am glad LEgos are turning out the way they are now, always cool to me. I like the batman line they are coming out with and the mini figures like nigthtwing look awesome to me. They can't really be compared to minimates since minimates are the superior figures but to me I like both ya know? THe batman lego vehicles look awesome, the batwing and batmobile surprised me, a vertical dock for the batwing? AWESOME~~!! Let us hope it can fit in some sort of batcave later on.

Wait...so this is OFFICIAL and coming out in the coming months? AWESOME!!!!!!!

Kevin, I myself never had a chance to order from you but I do know that if I did I would be satisfied with my order. If anything this frees up time to take care of your daughter, more time for yourself, AND more time to spend with all of us on the forums! You have a well deserved break my friend, enjoy it!!!! You spent so much time helping us enjoy our hobby, now you can have your turn to enjoy it as well(lord knows the estore took up a lot of your time, and I thank you for doing this, you made many fans happy).

Last I heard the V-22 was entering service as the MV-22, the military still wants it. Whats the X-50 look like? Is it an attack copter? And speakin of which what do you guys think of copters? My favs are the HIND, Ah-1 cobra, and apache. The HIND looks awesome and is versatile and menacing, apache is cool, and cobra is just so sleek and sexy. I bought 21st century's ultimate soldier XD 1/18 Ah-1W Cobra over break on clearance at hungates. VERY cool but the pilot figure is not as good as the BBI copter pilots. And judging by pics I saw in a recent magazine on OIF, the cobra seems fairly accurate in terms of liveries and weapons loadout. Its fairly durable, has opening surfaces and is very detailed, very cool. Do you guys think jet engines will totally replace the rotors on copters one day? I keep envisioning that it is the next step.

In the Tv series I think first episode, there are cannon fodders with skull symbols on the tail flying with Roy in formation, I can't remember if they were black or white skulls, but black skulls would look good since the it will stand out more than white on the brown tailfin. It would look awesome to me.

Guys don't forget, Noel saw the prototypes@wonderfest was it(the one where he posted a gallery here I think in summer)? And I think the VF-1A 1/48 was in the vincinity of the proto, so if anything he has seen it first hand and would know the size difference. There was a hasegawa scratch build that came out before macross zer0 was finished, it showed the scratchbuild VF-0B 1/72 scale next to a hasegawa VF-1 1/72 skull 1. Its in the magazine scan section, I think that shows the BEST size difference. I think Graham scanned the article in right before xmas 2002.And you can bet that if the VF-0 made it into 1/48 yamato might have added a chock full of more features and charged higher(bigger size=more room to work with=more detail=more potential for functional moving surfaces).

Hey guys do you think the JSF will prove to be a successful replacement for the F/A-18C legacy hornet? Why not just replace the legacy birds in the navy with the F/A-18E? What does the JSF have over the F/A-18E aside from stealth and internal armnament? Wouldn't it be cheaper for the navy to just have a nearly all hornet strike fighter fleet?

jenius I DEFINITELY agree with you on MPC's. I think nearly all the flak came because of the retail price. And I definitely think had yamato NOT come out with stuff during 2001 and had this whole HG fiasco never happened, a lot more MW'ers would have liked the MPC. I believe ginrai from masterforce.org was the one who suggested to look away from the politics and judge the toy as it is. The price turned me off as well but all the MPC's eventually were discounted at some point at the major etailer sites. Heck I got my first 2 at nekocon for 50$ each. I got my Roy@gamestop for 10$ during a delisting clearance and an additional 50% off for the delisting(it was originally 20$). And with the VF-0's price, yes it is high but I am glad it is just roughly 10$ more than the 1./48 VF-1. I am still going to wait a while before I throw some money on it, need to know what you guys think when you buy it and see if there is some qc flaws that need ironing out.

THey had FAST packs in the DYRL movie and I would presume they did in the series as well. About the skulls, that I have no clue on. I think its alright to have the black skulls on the FAST pack since you are getting Roy eventually and just putting the FAST packs on the CF in the mean time.

I am not sure on this but from what I have read about the toy industry, the more small parts=higher expense. For example, the 1.48 has a TON more parts than the bandai 1/55s, its not apparent from the outside but once you take both apart, it shows. THe steel toolings for the molds cost more to create for small part, the molds themselves are HUGE chunks of steel and small parts simply make the cost higher, its cheaper to produce larger solid pieces of plastic like an entire wing than it is to produce 15 pieces of small plastic pieces such as landing gears and antennas. You get the idea. I used to know more about this stuff but its been a while so I forgot. Put it this way. Bandai's 1/.55 and toynami's MPC, their wings are cast as one piece, the yamato 1.48 has one broad piece of wing, maybe 2 or more parts that insert atop, in ADDITION to 2 lights, and a flap per wing. So basically the more parts and especially smaller parts required per toy=more money to be charged=more money needed to use the mold/fund it. So of course yamato's 1.48 wing would cost a lot more to make from the molds than bandai's 1/.55 wing and toynamis MPC wing. I always questioned why a bigger toy such as those gargantuan power ranger zords never went beyond the price of a 1./48(in the US store Msrps), and the reason is that though while the zords of the past were at times expoenentially bigger than the 1/48 toys, they simply were MUCH less complex and less detailed, not needing nowhere near as many parts, so in this case its not so much the size of the toy that dictates the price, its the amount of pieces involved to create the piece. Now if yamato had a lot more larger pieces than smaller pieces, we could have a cheaper 1/48. However this would result in a much less detailed toy, and of course we would complain. And a lot of sculpted details could be lost in the process and such. (for example for simplicity pretend that yamato puts out 1.48 wings all in one piece, NO clear plastic lights, instead painted areas to "imitate" the lights much like bandai and toynami does with their 1.55 wings). You get what I'm saying? Yamato aimed these at the collectors market and they know what we want in some way. With a kid you could please them with simplicity, adults are a lot more demanding. And the transformation adds a lot to the small parts issue, all the hinges and parts needed to enable a smooth transformation add to the amount of small parts needed to make the toy. This might be a major reason the 1.60 VF-0 costs more than a 1.48 VF-1, outside it might seem simpler but its a disguise, perhaps the VF-0 has a ton of smaller parts underneath that enable its transformation. Its an expensive hobby but if anything I have learned good things come to those who wait. I always waited for bandais to be reissued and after more than 10 years of waiting we got our wish, however this coincided with us being flooded by yamato VF-1's. So its a mixed blessing. I always wished a company would one day outdo bandai/takatoku's old 1.55 and create a new more detailed still perfect variable VF-1 toy, and yamato came along and did that. And lord knows how long macross fans were waiting for a valk to knock over the 1.55(though this is debatable I got a LOT of love for the 1/55 and I know some of you still do). But nonetheless it is pricey, if the zero line is extended to the rest of the important fighters, I will onnly pick up perhaps 1 of each.

Hey guys can you post pics of your guyver figs? Man I do want these but the prices!!! some places got the gigantics for over 80$!!! Gigantic is an aqquired taste, I'd have to see it in action in the manga to see if I like it. The gallery of the gigantic dark was cool though. How good is the quality on these? I hear its kinda what you pay for aside that it is a big price tag. I mean these things are 6" marvel legend scale right?

Remeember those happywell car robots that were 1:18 scale and were a landcruiser and supra? Dude in japan has them here, http://members9.tsukaeru.net/ty1_toys/toys/ROADBOT_01.htm Looks huge!

According to what I read on neoguyver.com, Agito(Guyver 3) has left Sho's team and has made it apparent that after he destroys Chronos, he plans to rule the world in their place. Gigantic Dark is Guyver 3's upgrade, and Gigantic is Guyver 1's. Also, Agito can remove gigantic from Sho and use it for his own armor however Guyver 1 apparently showed that it could still do tremendous damage on its own and didn'tr really need the gigantic, even though agito apparently did. So Don't worry old schoolers, guyver 1 for the most part is in the same aesthetic it always was. Gigantic is only an upgrade used when the time is needed. The toy is expensive as hell holy crap.

Wow you haven't seen it? head over to www.hlj.com dude! And Graham's got a dedicated VF-0S 1/60 thread with a bunch of scans!!! It's on the 2nd page of the toy forum I believe. It's longer and presumably bigger than the 1/48 VF-1(the VF-0 is a big beast). And it is 150-60$ depending on where you order.

whoa....hey I was just trying to help him out. And no I don't bash toynami the most, maybe others, but certainly not me(if you don't remember I used to defend the MPC VF-1s a LOT).

Diecast is mostly in the legs but the thing that surprised most is that the leg articulation IS retained even in combined mode! It might not be much but it IS present! Its a little morsel of great engineering. There was a rumor earlier that the legs in combined mode could not move but it was soon proven wrong.

Also try robot-japan.com. They have a dedicated braves board! Also from there I heard a lot of comments, the only complaints are not that much diecast and small size, otherwise it seems to surpass the original by a lot. (this makes the original truly seem more n more like a little kids toy, MP seems THAT good!).