Shaorin

Damn MacDonald's Valk. i sure hope to god that YAMATO milks this mold, though. Mickey-D's VF aside, this mold truly does look SMASHING, and is obviously flexible as all get-out. it truly is a marked improvement over the 1/60v.I YF-19. that much i cannot deny. i just hope that this damned thing doesn't prove to be YAMATO's MACROSS swan song. really now, an over-saturated market, coupled with a poor world-economy, and topped off by a love it or hate it VF toy from a love it or hate it MACROSS series that enjoys popularity pretty much only in it's home country, does not bode particularly well, IMO. that said, given MAC-7's unfathomable high-popularity in japan, i rather fear that YAMATO is now going to attempt to coast along over the next year at least on MAC-7 valk variants, and people like me possibly might be lucky if we see YF/VF-19 variants based on this new mold that aren't the VF-19kai or either of the two BLAZERs before we turn old and gray, if ever. maybe i'm just pessimistic, but i'm just worried that we're going to be headed right back to the Bad-Old-Days, when companies like BANDAI only wished to satisfy the lowest common denominator of MACROSS fan, with those horrible MAC-7 products they marketed back then. finally, with the market over-saturated as it is, even if YAMATO DOES get around to new non-MAC-7 YF-19 products, they will surely cost the less-affluent MACROSS fans out there (such as myself) an arm, leg and a pair of kidneys. MY GOD, what is the not so well-heeled MACROSS fan to do these days? not so terribly long ago, $150.00USD seemed a princely sum for a 1/48 VF-1. today though? we're looking at $200.00USD minimum, with $250/$300.00USD the most common price point. we get better design and QC then ever before with YAMATO products, but BOY do we ever have to pay for it!!

hold on a minute, does this mean that HASEGAWA has been able to produce/sell ONLY 5000 VF-1 kits to date? only 5000 units in TEN YEARS of production? geez, i thought MACROSS fandom was bigger than that in Japan alone... and yes, it is a BEAUTIFUL color scheme, IMHO...

i got the time to get a little ways further along on my 2010-reissue 1/1000 U.S.S. EXCELSIOR refit recently. i'm NOT a good modeler, so please be gentle; i still have some detail work to do, and i've got to clean up some of that nasty uneven line work. i also need to pick up some decal lacquer the next time i'm in town, so to speak, so i can begin decal placement. perhaps i'll be almost finished by sometime next month. then i can order up that sheet of custom EXCELSIOR decals and finish things off with the EXCELSIOR-specific markings...

the SENTINELS soundtrack never bothered me all that much, actually. sure, it sounds like 80's video game music, but, as a die-hard vintage video gamer, and fan of 1980's pop in general, i myself don't mind that SENTINELS stuff at all really. in fact, i rather feel that it has it's own charm about it. 'sides, at least the soundtrack belongs to a half-assed U.S. knock-off, and not an actual legitimate Anime series. hell, things could be worse, y'know... ...annnd, THEY ARE. awww, gee guys, now SEE how TOTALLY AWESOME that is? now THATs that i'm talking about!! that's PRECISELY why RT will ALWAYS be SO MUCH BETTER than those three poo-poo cartoons from another place a long long ways away that doesn't speak english that were used to make it!

i read it a while back, actually. great work, Jenius...

that's awesome! i just turned 29 this last JAN. FYI...

hey there people, been a while! i just stumbled a couple weeks ago on a very rare find indeed. 17-count 'em-Seventeen of MAXELL's early top-of-the-line 1985-edition EPITAXIAL "HGX GOLD HI-FI" VHS format Videocassettes!! they are fantastic!! BEAUTIFUL cosmetics and build quality!! they are among the best Videocassettes i've ever owned! i have opened six samples, and i'll be leaving the remaining 11 sealed. i'll be recording onto the six samples some of my favorite high-resolution programming on DVD that isn't MACROVISIONed, mostly Anime (Japanese Animation) such as the 1984 theatrical movie "MACROSS; Do You Remember Love?" my recorder is the almighty classic 1988 JVC HR-S8000U;

i wouldn't mind adding this little cupcake to my Anime girl collection, if i could only spare $40.00USD one of these days for such a silly little thing; EDIT; okay, blast it, you guys!! after doing some looking into it, i'm pretty much sold on this concept! it's just too adorable!! i don't know when i'll be affording it, hopefully soon, but im definitely gonna be getting the standard black/white Hoihoi and her little charger!! the whole thing's just too cute!! the whole thing will cost me around $70, but gosh darn it, you only go around the world once, and besides, she's so ♥Cute♥

i've got an original copy of the 1989 VENUS WARS O.S.T. it's a must-have. really, it is. the whole disc is full of terrific JOE HISAISHI (of STUDIO GHIBLI fame) pieces, crowned by the FANTASTIC "Asu E No Kaze" end credits song; Joe Hisaishi; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Hisaishi 1 Main Theme (Venus No Kanata E) Joe Hisaishi 3:42 2 Aozora Ichiba -Supiton Nite- Joe Hisaishi 2:55 3 Shakunetsu No Circuit Joe Hisaishi 3:47 4 Ai No Theme (For Maggie) Joe Hisaishi 4:03 5 Senshun No Shissou Joe Hisaishi 3:25 6 Main Theme -Haundo- (Reprise) Joe Hisaishi 2:19 7 Venus No Kaze (Wind On The Venus) Joe Hisaishi 2:48 8 Deadpoint Joe Hisaishi 1:42 9 Sue vs. Donna Joe Hisaishi 1:07 10 Senjou, Soshite Nokoru Mono Wa Joe Hisaishi 8:03 11 Asu E No Kaze Joe Hisaishi 5:31

finally broke down and detailed the cockpit of my HCM VF-1J. i intended out the outset to leave it unpainted for the same "retro look" as the TAKA/BANDAI 1/55s, but i decided in the end that the HCM deserves better than that. the toy/model honestly displays SO much better in FIGHTER now. i also ditched the awful HCM "pilot figure" and appropriated one of the pilots from my three 1/72 IMAI/BANDAI VARIABLE TYPE model kits to make a superior pilot figure for the HCM;

* YAMATO 1/60v.II VF-1J ICHIJO TV TYPE * BANDAI 1/72 HCM VF-1J ICHIJO TV TYPE * CM's CORP. 1/8 "GUTTO KURU" Lynn Minmay * MACROSS CHRONICLE MAGAZINE Vol.1 (with large detailed article covering the Ichijo TV VF-1J) (i have a transparent plastic ring binder envelope bound into the magazine, between the last page and back cover, that neatly contains the instruction manuals and HCM file cards for both 1Js) i've parted ways with my 1/48s, and given my sole 1/55 to my mother's boyfriend. that pretty much consolidates my current MACROSS toy collection to what is shown above there. i've a few additional major MACROSS acquisitions planned, such as a VF-1S Focker, a YF-19 D.N. a VF-11C, and the YELLOW SUBMARINE 27cm. DYRL Lynn Minmay doll, if i can happen across one at a reasonable enough price. i'm also considering adding an unbuilt 1983 IMAI edition 1/72 VF-1J Ichijo T.V. but my mind isn't entirely made up about the necessity of that yet. finally, i think i'll be investing in the 1988 DYRL "GOLD BOOK" one of these odd days. there are lots of other little "minor" items i've had my eyes on, and just might get a hold of one of these odd days, but those mentioned above are my MVP standouts. one final thing; i just recently found an old (1950's/1960's) tin sewing machine accessory case at a yard sale for almost free, that i have fairly clumsily appropriated into a case for my VF-1's accessories. it serves the purpose quite well; also, i finally broke down and detailed the cockpit of my HCM VF-1J. i intended out the outset to leave it unpainted for the same "retro look" as the TAKA/BANDAI 1/55s, but i decided in the end that the HCM deserves better than that. the toy/model honestly displays SO much better in FIGHTER now. i also ditched the awful HCM "pilot figure" and appropriated one of the pilots from my three 1/72 IMAI/BANDAI VARIABLE TYPE model kits to make a superior pilot figure for the HCM;

man, i've got VHS and/or DVD copies of ALL of those, and they're among my favorites as well!!

* YAMATO 1/60v.II VF-1J ICHIJO TV TYPE * BANDAI 1/72 HCM VF-1J ICHIJO TV TYPE * CM's CORP. 1/8 "GUTTO KURU" Lynn Minmay * MACROSS CHRONICLE MAGAZINE Vol.1 (with large detailed article covering the Ichijo TV VF-1J) (i have a transparent plastic ring binder envelope bound into the magazine, between the last page and back cover, that neatly contains the instruction manuals and HCM file cards for both 1Js) i've parted ways with my 1/48s, and given my sole 1/55 to my mother's boyfriend. that pretty much consolidates my current MACROSS toy collection to what is shown above there. i've a few additional major MACROSS acquisitions planned, such as a VF-1S Focker, a YF-19 D.N. a VF-11C, and the YELLOW SUBMARINE 27cm. DYRL Lynn Minmay doll, if i can happen across one at a reasonable enough price. i'm also considering adding an unbuilt 1983 IMAI edition 1/72 VF-1J Ichijo T.V. but my mind isn't entirely made up about the necessity of that yet. finally, i think i'll be investing in the 1988 DYRL "GOLD BOOK" one of these odd days. there are lots of other little "minor" items i've had my eyes on, and just might get a hold of one of these odd days, but those mentioned above are my MVP standouts. one final thing; i just recently found an old (1950's/1960's) tin sewing machine accessory case at a yard sale for almost free, that i have fairly clumsily appropriated into a case for my VF-1's accessories. it serves the purpose quite well;

interesting things to say, indeed! i overlooked that the first time, thanks!!

you done gave me an idea there. i did the same thing with my copy of the movie, a DVD-R copy of a BOOT SUB by an "Anime Cartoon" it doesn't seem to be nearly as sharp as your copy. EXCELLENT SUB translation, though...

while that IS some FANTASTIC work there, especially on so small a scale, i cannot seem to help but get sick to my stomach after viewing that parade of ARII 1/100s. those gawdawful (IMO) kits were the ONLY damned MACROSS merchandise i could ever find for several long years, and those 1997 ARII 15th anniv. 1/100 re-tool "action figures" only made things worse. by the time i finally ran across some of the 1/100 and 1/72 IMAI/BANDAI reissues in the very late 1990's/very early 2000's, i had had QUITE ENOUGH of ARII brand MACROSS products, and would've been happy to never see any again in my lifetime. regardless, great work, whoever did those up out there. wonder if he/she's moved on to HASEGAWA 1/72s by now?

ah yes, excellent work there!! i'll be lucky if i can manage anything like that kind of job on mine, but i'm sure gonna try! yeah, i'll be getting the EXCELSIOR custom decals in the next couple months or so, and lacquering them all in. i used TAMIYA X-13 METALLIC BLUE for all the transparent warp nacelle parts on mine. i painted them from the inside. i also have TAMIYA X-14 SKY BLUE to use for all of the blue detail areas throughout the spaceframe. in a perfect world, i would have loved to have just thrown some money at a professional modeller, and had one of these kits built up like a precision ILM movie prop, but well...

and furthermore, if his Caps Lock IS broke, why can't he just go buy a new Keyboard?

just got this set from VF-1x!! thanks, jerry!! the darkly colored DVD set is the entire SDFM series, with poor subbing, made by an "Anime Cartoon" the "FX" DYRL is an empty case. i picked it up for my DVD-R copy of a very high quality SUB of the film, also by "Anime Cartoon" must have been a WAY better subber in their employ handling this...) the "FX" version of the SDFM T.V. set was an empty case, as well. picked it up because i thought the box art was to die for... i think i can now consider my MACROSS Video collection complete. i would still like to get DVD versions of MAC. II and MAC. PLUS, and a quality SUB of SDFM, but that aside, i think i can die contently enough...

http://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/87/defiant/ my parents bought me that SOB back in the day, about $130.00 or so at the TOYS-R-US in CLACKAMAS, OR. back then, about 1988/89ish. i remember my father bringing the box into the house, and it was a damned big mother!! my parents both assembled the thing together in the living room. there were scads and scads of model kit-like parts frames, and the pre-assembled primary sub-components of the DEFIANT space shuttle, booster shuttle and transport/launch complex, all neatly contained in several cardboard sub-boxes. i think my parents were attempting to vicariously live a second-childhood through me, as they were excited as all hell about this thing, rather much like those other lucky kids out there that had received one. all that, and yet i distinctly remember NOT being overly turned on by it. not really at all, actually. i mean, i had LOTS of G.I. JOE toys, but even as a little kid back then, i think i realized that japanese mecha toys were where it really was at for me, and while was a bit too young at the time to have had an opportunity to experience the golden years of TRANS-FORMERS and the like, i DID own some of the latter-year TF offerings, and i recall enjoying them immensely, despite their crappiness. actually, i think i was something of a frustrated, budding Anime-Mecha nerd at the time that didn't quite fully realize it. too young yet for COMICS/COLLECTIBLES shops and their expensive IMPORT MECHA TOYS, and all primed and ready for the golden-age of U.S. localized mecha toys, about five years past their day. to compound matters, when my mother gave my father the go-ahead to express his opinion on what toys he thought his son should have, it was always G.I.JOE all the way. on top of all that, i was a rather strangely shy child. i never really make my desires terribly obvious all that often, and as such, i tended to sit back while my rather generous parents wasted lots of money on me. in all, my mother was responsible for all the "cool, intelligent toys" that really stuck with me in the end, and my father was responsible for G.I.JOE and everything else. hell, feel free to kill me (softly, please) but the most fun i remember having with that DEFIANT set was letting my many pet guinea pigs wander about (and yes, piss and drop beans all over) the thing. kids'll be kids, i 'spose. in sum, i think i had more of an engineer's mindset as a boy, as i recall having MUCH more fun with my LEGO TECHNICs back then than i ever had with any of my old large G.I. JOE collection, which i ended up taking over to a collector's shop (including what was left of the DEFIANT) around 2000ish, and trading it all for my very first transformable VF-1 Valkyrie toy, a TRANS-FORMERS JETFIRE...

if i knew that YAMATO was going to make a YF-19 variant on this mold, i MIGHT consider waiting for one. still, i am HIGHLY predisposed towards going with a YF-19 DN, as it's design looks "good enough" to me, and it's ONE HELL of a lot cheaper than the "McDonalds Valkyrie" here, and most likely to remain as such against any future variants that this new 19 might spawn. furthermore, i am QUITE unhappy about the PARTS-FORMING involving the FIGHTER-MODE neck shield. come on, YAMATO!! that's a BANDAI stunt! you guys're ABOVE that crap!! the YF-19 1/60v.1 manages an integrated neck shield, why cant Ronald McValkyrie here?!? YAMATO's sole compromise in their PERFECT TRANSFORMATION ideal has been thus far tightly limited to their Valks' INTAKE covers. THAT i can understand. THIS however? Nah, no way. No Comprende, guys. we've been spending the last ten years taking transforming MECHA toy design places no one dared even DREAM of a short decade ago, and suddenly we encounter a backwards step like this? cummon, guys!! not even the BIG MAC of MACROSS deserves this!!

OOOK-OOOK!!! ME TARZAN, YOU JANE!!!

indeed, would you look at that! reasonably accurate AND fully variable!! (though apparently not without a little parts-forming, waah.) regardless, definitely some of the best papercraft work i've seen to date! funny though, how the fellow has yet to show a full right-side-up pic of FIGHTER mode, despite the model obviously being quite finished...

i've a copy of that very same late 1990's "BEST HOME VIDEO" edition. the AUDIO and VIDEO quality is every bit as awful as the TOHO-sourced english dub, what with the cassette recorded with the VHS slave recorder set in some sort of terrible SLP mode, cramming a two-hour movie on a cheap 45-minute in SP mode cassette blank; i've also a superb S-VHS dub of of one of the finest HK BOOT sub DVDs, made with a high-end DVD player and S-VHS VCR;

oh god, SOMEBODY HELP MEEE!!!!!! DR MOVIE had involvement in MACROSS PLUS, after all...