Chronocidal

Nin-Nin got hammered, think it had one of the lowest prices, but AE came out about the same 33,000 yen, I think (without checking the conversion math) I got one added to my cart.. then it added a second (which wasn't actually a problem since the limit there was 2), but then the cart link just began timing out. Hobby Genki is showing available too as of this edit, but they've got one of the higher prices. Edit: Also, whoa... HLJ limited to 3? That's.. new.

Up on AE and HLJ https://anime-export.com/index.php?product=91493 https://www.hlj.com/dx-chogokin-vf-19-kai-excalibur-nekki-basara-special-banc676269

The knee gap is a consequence of needing to compress the legs for battroid, and stretch them out for fighter. Otherwise, you get the long skinny legs on the DX YF-19. Since the Fire Valk generally gets a lot more time and attention to battroid mode, the fighter just gets the short end of the stick to make the legs look appropriately chonky. The YF-19 got the opposite treatment, and while it leaves the battroid looking more lanky than it should, I'm not even slightly interested in them redoing it. All that will accomplish is giving us another giant knee gap like the Arcadia version has. We've got the Arcadia for a good animation battroid, and I'm fine letting Bandai keep its more fighter-focused take. (Though I would love to see them make that stupid gray thigh hinge match ) We'll see how he price works out though. Inflation (and other potential increases) aside, the exhange rate has still kept things fairly consistent on the import end for the US. I'm really not sure that neck cover is going to be an improvement though. They're trying to hide it with camera angles, but it looks like he's wearing a neck brace.

Yeah, that's the price you pay for getting the neck cover integrated. Can't say I'm actually a fan, it just looks like it breaks up the entire flow of the spine. Looking like once again we're just going to be trading off positives and negatives between the Yamato and Bandai designs, with the perfect mix being a non-existent blending of the best features of both.

I'm honestly not sure HLJ is even worth trying lately, because they seem to be on Bandai's sh!tlist for some reason. I am STILL waiting for my original HG YF-21 order, and they didn't even list the HMR VF-19P. I don't think they've been getting sufficient stock from them for a long time. Whether a DX release will be different, I don't know.

Is this a trick question? \ Though on that note, maybe it's time for a new edition of my avatar.. "LISTEN TO MY LAZOR!!"

Ugh.. obviously the gear are bare metal, but I don't think that integrated neck cover is doing fighter any favors at all. Now it's just got scoliosis. \ I do think the overall fighter profile is a bit better than the Yamato though. Better intakes (but still the same ugly knee gap), and the LEX looks like a better angle, making the nose look longer. Still want to see a top view, but I'll try and bite for one at least.

I'm just curious if there is anything that can be done about the time restrictions applied to the search functions. I can understand there being limits on making new searches, but the time limit applies to any function applied to an already completed one. Every time I need to perform a search, it seems like I'm slamming my face against my desk trying to actually view what it found, because I can't change pages, can't sort by date, can't really do anything with the results. I understand if that's just a forum software limit, so maybe that's something to take up with the developers (or something that might get fixed in a future update), but this behavior just feels baffling.

I think the Bandai Star Wars model thread is long buried, but figure this is worth posting. Looks like they're re-issuing the PG 1/72 Falcon https://anime-export.com/index.php?product=91383 Deadline is the 30th of April, with a release at the end of July, so it might have been announced a while ago, and I just missed it.

Interesting, what's the difference, if any? I'm just generally annoyed at whatever caused Amazon to completely yeet my pre-order into the abyss last time. In other news though, spent a bit of time taking measurements, and after coming up with a fitting sleeve interior, I can build different nose cones for the E-Wing off of it. I'll probably do one more like the original EU design later, but I wanted to try something a little different to start out. Kind of reminiscent of a BSG Viper nose, but a little more curved, and with a similar detail to the original X-Wing nosecone. Will need some intensive sanding, but I'm glad the plastic I used is pretty near one of the stock paint shades used on the ship.

Nice! Been waiting for that one... Now to just wait and pray that Amazon doesn't shaft me on this one like it did my Tie Bomber pre-order.

I never really wanted a ton of markings on the VF-17s anyhow, but yeah, the lack of the ones we did see in the show was pretty disappointing. I can't really say I was that upset about it personally, since I don't mind them being solid black, but that's one of the detriments of giving the customer too much choice.

Anyone missed the steelbook set, it's back up on Amazon for a pre-order at $40, but no definite shipping date yet.

The possible price issues might make this a no-sale, but I might still grab one or two, just because I love seeing all the different ways to approach the VF-19 design. If I do wind up with one, it'll probably stay in fighter mode, since while the Yamato is good, the proportions and shape of the forward fuselage/LEX always bugged me. I want to see if Bandai manages to improve it. Either way, I'm much more interested in seeing this turned into a proper VF-19F/S/P/etc. anyway, especially with them finally adding some proper hardpoints to the design. Would love to see some of the customs out of the Macross 30 game, or the Master File, but those will always just be a pipe dream.

Yeeesh, they need to get with it here. There's still a good number of OT designs they haven't touched (Imperial Shuttle, Tie Bomber), a pile of good stuff from the PT, and a heap of stuff from the "new" canon that they can latch onto. After the two I mentioned, I would absolutely be down for official E-Wing and Tie Defender kits, and I still want a decent standard N-1, V-19, Clone Wars-era Y-Wing, ARC-170 and any of the Jedi Starfighter designs.