mechaninac

Uber sweet...my favorite Valkyrie has finally gotten some love. Keep'em coming, I can't wait to see top. bottom, front, and rear views. Are you going to be doing the VF-2SS without the SAP? How about the VF-2JA Icarus? I know....I'm being a pest...

The Tread is definitely bulkier than the Legioss, but not that much taller (battroid). Legioss = 28.7 ft * 1/55 = just under 6.25" (8.75 m * 1/55 = 15.9 cm). Toynami may have tweaked the size up a bit if the 6.5" I've seen quoted is accurate. Tread = 35 ft * 1/55 = just under 7.65" (10.7 m * 1/55 = 19.45 cm) So, at 1/55 scale, a MPC Beta would be no more the 1.5" (3.8 cm) taller than the MPC Alpha, and shorter than even a 1/60 VF-1 which stands at roughly 8.3" (21 cm). IMO, the choice of 1/55 has a lot more to do with scale continuity with the existing MPC Veritech line than with concerns regarding a possible linkable Beta. In any event, an Alpha/Beta, Legioss/Tread, combo would be one of the centerpieces of any collection and well worth having, even in 1/55. Now if they would only lower the MSRP.....

The only fit problem I see with placing the GBP armor on the VF-1D is the heat shield piece. If you look at the 1D, the back pack is the same as other VFs, same arms, same legs and hips; thus, all the pieces should fit. The only differences between the 1D and the 1A, 1J, and 1S are the chest plate (should not prove a problem for the GBP chest armor) and the heat shield piece that comes with the GPB has a slot that corresponds with a peg on the armor (this is the hang-up as this heat shield will not fit the 1D; however, if you leave off the heat shield piece, the armor should be able to just hang over the chest, but it will be floppy). PS: The above is not an endorsement to buy a VF-1D. You should only buy the trainer if you like the design; buying it specifically to mount a GBP is not a good idea. PPS: You've made me curious. I'm going to have to give this a try just to find out if would be possible to mount the GBP on the VF-1D. PPPS: Even if it proves impossible to mount the GBP on the 1D, it still can wear the fast packs, or just sit there unadorned; it's a good looking toy regardless.

Ditto. I'd love to be able to mess around with the VF-4, but I need to have it converted to OBJ, 3DS, or DXF in order for me to open the files in Lightwave. Does anyone know of a shareware/freeware mesh format converter that can handle MAX 5x files?

Like having a VF-19 in Macross Zero??? That doesn't even address my point. In my opinion the VF-2SS is far more advanced than the VF-1 and VF-4, in your opinion it's not. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this point. If you really want to see something that looks totally incongruous with its stated time frame, just look at the VF-0...engines aside, the VF-0 looks far more modern than the VF-1 (I know this has to do with modern aircraft influences, more mature mechanical designing and computer modeling, and higher production budgets, but the fact remains that, aesthetically, the VF-1 looks like a through-back next to the VF-0). That's just it; Macross II is not Kawamori's baby, thus his VF numbering system is not relevant. Stating that a fictitious machine's numbering system does not follow a linear progression that was not really set in stone at the time the OVA was made, in a project that did not include the originator of said system, is not much of an argument...it's nitpicking. You're entitled to nitpick, but I'm not bound to agree with it. That is completely a matter of opinion. The VF-1 design lineage is entirely intentional and I see more of a Patlabor influence than Gundam in the VF-2SS...just take a look at the head. As far as originality goes, there isn't much of it anywhere you look, anime, American cartoons, TV programs, movies, they all borrow from each other and influence each other...a truly original work is like a rare gem. I agree that Kawamori's mechanical creations are fantastic, but even he is guilty of derivative designs, and his genius in no way diminishes the work done on Macross II. IMO the UN SPACY mecha from Macross II are excellent. I'll grant you this one, as haven't seen FB 2012, and used it only as a point or reference. However, if you disregard it, and assume a bifurcation point prior to 2012, than my assertion still stands: "As a sequel to DYRL? only , MII works...". Also, music in Macross has the effect of confusing the Zentradi exactly because it awakens an emotional response in them that is so alien to their existence that it nearly paralyzes them. In Macross II this effect is used as a defensive weapon against renegade Zentradi forces that did not participate in the events of DYRL?, and still roam the galaxy (the theme of other Zentradi armies being a recurring problem for the UN SPACY is even, however unrelated, touched upon in Macross Plus). The "music effect" is also used by the Marduk through their emulators, but in their, case not to influence, convert or defend against, but in order to control and enslave the Zentradi battalions they use as cannon fodder in their mach of conquest. If taken only on its merits, without the baggage of the Macross canon, Macross II can be enjoyable IMO. Again, just a matter of personal opinion. All productions are intended to make a buck, fast & easy or otherwise...no consumption oriented art is ever created for art's sake. Conclusion: different strokes for different folks.

There have been only two films in the past 10 years that made me feel as if I'd been mugged coming out of the theater, Starship Troopers was one, the other was Waterworld. While Waterworld was utterly irredeemable, at least Starship Troopers had cool visual effects, but not cool enough to outweigh the sheer craptastic quality of the scrip, acting, editing (I absolutely hated the "would you like to know more?" bits...it may have worked in the book, but it sucked camel balls in the movie), and the piece de resistance...Verhoven's directing. A stinker tour the force.

I'm sorry, but using VF numbering continuity as a reason for why Macross II does not fit into Macross canon is an irrelevant argument. It is perfectly logical for the Valkyrie II VF-2SS to be much more modern than the higher numbered VF-22, for example. Discrepancies in plane number designations are nothing new; the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers are much more advanced that the much older B-52 Stratofortress, also the F-22 Raptor is a new fighter, whereas the F-100 is a relic. There may be problems with Macross II, and you do a good job at pointing some of them out, but the human mecha are not one of them. IMO, aside from the Metal Siren, MII has some the coolest looking mechanical designs of any of the Macross series. As a sequel to DYRL? only , MII works, if you're able to disregard later series. I consider it more of a tangential story than an alternate universe, as if after FB 2012 there is a split...take door number one and you get MII, take door number two and you get the recognized canon. They are different, yet equally valid, depending on how you look at it.

Second week of August...Where the hell is my Alpha?!!

It's neither. That's a 1/48 tripple change IMAI Mars Base blue Legioss kit sporting a red Legioss's head. The large Gakken is 1/35 and the MPC is 1/55 in scale.

...12.6 inches long in shuttle mode . This thing is going to actually be a pretty big toy; add Yamato's customary box size overkill and shipping and the VB-6's price will fall somewhere between a 1/48 VF-1A,S,J and a VF-1J w/FP ...probably closer to the latter.

The text shows a measurement of 32 cm; is that the battroid height or the overall length in shuttle mode? As for the Lucite blocks...meh, I remember a similar concern with the 1/60 Q'Rau as the prototypes for that power suit were also supported by blocks in most/all pictures. The Koenig Monster does look pretty cool, however, and I'm seriously tempted to get it when it comes out. Now all we need is, at least, a tentative MSRP to give us an idea of how much of a dent this thing will cause in the bank account.

If they made a VF-1D I'd buy it. One of the sticking points of the VF-1D, VE-1, and VT-1 designs is that they are too unique; unlike the other VFs, there are no color variations to help amortize the cost of development and tooling. However, they could get around that somewhat by making not only a VF-1D, for example, in orange and sand like on the show, but also a special edition low vis version...I'd buy THAT in an instant.

Toynami sure runs an amateurish operation, don't they? Well, I guess another couple of weeks won't hurt, too much.

I've done this to my 1/48s also, its a quick mod that enhances the look of the valk's head considerably, akin to panel lining. Here's a quick how-to: 1. Use a No. 11 exacto blade to mark/start the drilling. Just eyeball the center of the cannon and work the blade like a drill. Make a hole big enough to firmly hold the drill for the next operation. The blade gives you much more control than a pin vise and drill. 2. Next comes the drilling. It's best to have three different sizes to work with, a small diameter drill, an intermediate sized drill, and your final barrel bore size. Drilling in three steps is 99.99% guaranteed to eliminate any chance of splitting the gun barrel of your precious 1/48. A quick way to achieve evenly deep holes is to put tape around the drill about 1/8" to 1/4" (your preference, but they should be the same for each drill) from the tip of each drill to act as a depth guide. Work the drills in slowly, giving 3 to 6 turns and backing out to clear the shavings and repeat until you reach your set depth; try to keep them going down concentric to the barrel to avoid punching through the side. 3. Add some flat black paint to the drilled holes and bingo, you're done.

I wouldn't fret over the green Alpha's head sculpt overmuch. The head on the super poseable looked dead-on, so there is no reason to believe that they'd make it inaccurate on a flagship item.

Anime: Haro (MSG & SEED) and Mint (Mospeada). American Cartoons: Orco (80's He-Man). Sci-Fi TV: Tweekie (Buck Rogers) Sci-Fi Movies: Jar-Jar Binks...undoubtedly the lamest, most annoying bag of puke ever to disgrace a screen.

The first is a tequila gunner, or some such, from Dougram; the second one is a drifand Dall form Orguss. Go HERE for a comprehensive list of Revell kits from the Robotech Defenders line. Serge

I second that notion. Anazasi or Takatoys stickers or decals would be THE thing to use; not only are they of superior quality, but you also get to keep the originals intact.

So what else is new?...If you remember, Star Wars Special edition had several questionable PC editing choices in it; the one that comes most glaringly to mind is the cantina scene where a nonchalant Han Solo shoots Greedo in the gut and leaves is replaced by a nonchalant Han Solo shooting Greedo in the gut AFTER Greedo misses a point blank range shot at Solo without him even trying to duck--and Greedo was supposed to be a bounty hunter...please. Lucas and Spielberg are the vanguard of this PC editing and re-release nonsense. For the perfect rebuttal of this nauseating trend see the South Park episode dedicated to skewering this trend...priceless!

Transfans??? Somehow that word just reads/sounds so wrong on so many levels...

I do believe those are Toynami's plans; after all the Alpha variations are released the next MPC subjects should be the cyclones/ride-armors, and if past practice is any indication, the first 3 should be Scott, Rand, and Lancer, as those already exist in kit form, and I'd bet that they will be around 1/12 scale.

Actually, a live action Transformers movie is what happens when you lift up the barrel to look under it...

Those are mostly, if not all, still boxed, aren't they? You have a point there, though. Practical considerations rarely have any impact on one's purchasing decisions when it comes to model kits, toys, or any collectible. However, size was a factor in my decision not to buy Polar Light's 1/72 C-57D kit. But, although I like Forbidden Planet as a movie, that space cruiser doesn't have the same attraction (its just a fling saucer, after all) as the Constitution refit does. I guess I will end up buying it and then find room for it.