Yamato 1/60 Non-Canon Color VF-1's

[Omegablue]

Well, I finally got mine.

It's truely awesome, I love it. Although I have encountered a couple of issues...

First, why is there knurling on the pins of the arms hinges? There already was one stress mark clearly visible as I lifted the legs to transform it for the first time. I haven't removed the pins, but that slightly knurling gap is present...

Secondly, the wings in plane mode don't slightly halt at that slight angle when opening them. They seem slightly loose.

Still, I adore it.

[jenius]

I looked at mine for gnurling when I did my review and didn't see any. I wonder if you just have the misfortune of getting a poorly put together shoulder.

[Omegablue]

I looked at mine for gnurling when I did my review and didn't see any. I wonder if you just have the misfortune of getting a poorly put together shoulder.

Probably then...

How are your wings?

[jenius]

The toy is put away so I can't double-check but I didn't note anything peculiar about the wings when I was doing my review. I was also comparing the toy to my Focker so it's probably safe to say that it has the same tightness/looseness as my other 1/60V2s.

[miriya]

Anyone has more information on this plain VF-1S?

I LOVE THIS WHITE SCHEME. I hope they have matching fast packs.

[dizman]

Possibly the VF-X prototype fighter http://www.new-un-spacy.com/sdfmacross/vf-x.htm

[Swoosh]

For customization?

[Vi-RS]

For customization?

where did u find that image? It's losing resolution.

[Lobizon]

Possibly the VF-X prototype fighter http://www.new-un-spacy.com/sdfmacross/vf-x.htm

Nope, the VF-X it's a non-variable fighter

Edited October 24, 2009 by Lobizon

[EXO]

Wow, I suggested a blank VF-1 since the 1/48s were ending... this would be awesome!

IF! that's what it is.

[BlueMax]

blank valk! great for customizers!

[Vi-RS]

The blank valkyrie seems like taken by official Yamato, it'd be great if this is what is gonna be released, great for customization and I have couple in my list already....

[jenius]

It's probably the only Yamato valk Yamato themselves own. You just found the "pre-photo shop color added" pics.

[honkhet]

lol... that just might be true

[Vi-RS]

duh.........

[EXO]

it's still a good idea. After they milk the mold , even with their custom schemes people will always have their own in mind. I wish they did it to the 1/48s also.

[Excillon]

I wish they would do it, it'd be the best idea they've had in a while.

[Vi-RS]

There are still lots of scheme that yamato missed, like the angel birds, dyrl CF 1A, and some custom paint schemes that they had in 1/48.... I wish they will them out soon.

[derex3592]

There are still lots of scheme that yamato missed, like the angel birds, dyrl CF 1A, and some custom paint schemes that they had in 1/48.... I wish they will them out soon.

AGREED!!! Where's my Alaska Base Green Valk Yamato???????

[miriya]

This blank one will be good for those who want to make a custom Minmei guard too. I still have hopes of Yamato making both of those (with fast packs) still though.

[Vi-RS]

Got the low viz vf-1s today, everthing is great. Yamato has eliminated the window box and seal the box with tape as well. I guess they are cutting cost with the new box layout.

[Javabean]

There are still lots of scheme that yamato missed, like the angel birds, dyrl CF 1A, and some custom paint schemes that they had in 1/48.... I wish they will them out soon.

Not forgeting TV VF-1S Roy Focker!

[jenius]

If they do do an all white valk, I think they should get hardcore about it. They should make it a web exclusive (hear me out). The item should cost about 50% of a normal valk, should come only partially assembled like a model kit, should have an unpainted pilot figure and gun, and should be shipped in a plain brown box, as small as possible, with paper instructions in Japanese about how to finish constructing the toy. The toy should come shipped with a TV VF-1A head with alternate heads and accessories also available through the Yamato website. Yamato should make a section of their website into the Macross Factory where you could buy all the items customizers could want. You want to buy 12 unpainted VF-1S heads? Sure. You want a bag full of different colored visors for those heads? That should be available to.

Am I dreaming a bit too much? Yeah, probably.

[ff95gj]

If they do do an all white valk, I think they should get hardcore about it. They should make it a web exclusive (hear me out). The item should cost about 50% of a normal valk, should come only partially assembled like a model kit, should have an unpainted pilot figure and gun, and should be shipped in a plain brown box, as small as possible, with paper instructions in Japanese about how to finish constructing the toy. The toy should come shipped with a TV VF-1A head with alternate heads and accessories also available through the Yamato website. Yamato should make a section of their website into the Macross Factory where you could buy all the items customizers could want. You want to buy 12 unpainted VF-1S heads? Sure. You want a bag full of different colored visors for those heads? That should be available to.

Am I dreaming a bit too much? Yeah, probably.

What's the good with it to make it web exclusive????

[jenius]

because it wouldn't work as a retail package. I can't imagine stores carrying incomplete toys in plain brown boxes right next to their normal toys at twice the cost... except maybe your Hobbylink Japans of the world. Also, if you introduce a middle man you introduce one more person who is going to want a take on the profit.

[ruskiiVFaussie]

Wow, I suggested a blank VF-1 since the 1/48s were ending... this would be awesome!

IF! that's what it is.

Me too, hell with my craptastic skills i could evn have a go at customizing for the fact i don't need to paint over a colour other than valk white!

:edited:

They need to do VT and VE as well, no to mention Strike Packs.

This can be a whole new can of worms for Yamato, their whole 1/60 range in "all-white".

Edited October 25, 2009 by ruskiiVFaussie

[DarkEyes]

Hi guys really like this VF-1S LV, but what about shoulders? how many of you have stress marks in the shoulders? Im wondering on getting this one or VF-25F Alto. Thanks a lot for the info.

[ff95gj]

because it wouldn't work as a retail package. I can't imagine stores carrying incomplete toys in plain brown boxes right next to their normal toys at twice the cost... except maybe your Hobbylink Japans of the world. Also, if you introduce a middle man you introduce one more person who is going to want a take on the profit.

I don't understand...

Instead of a middleman which works in large quantity (distributor/retailor) and cheaper overhead/item, you introduce a middleman which works in smaller quantity (order from web and forward it to you) and charge for a crazy amount. And there is no competition - shops, Japan or other regions, do not sell at the MSRP. Often there is a discount on top of the MSRP in Japan, and it's more volatile outside Jap. If it's a web exclusive, the one company control all the supplies and thus the price.

It doesn't have to be in plain brown box, and last time I've heard it's cheaper than the standard valks. Definitely not at twice the cost!

[Ghost Train]

Transcript from Yamato Products Development Board Meeting:

Engineer A: Ok, guys I have the greatest idea for the milk-molding strategy.

Engineer B: Ok.... ?

Engineer A: Ok, ready! This is going to be epic! Are you REALLY READY!

Engineer C: Yeah! Enough with the suspense!

Engineer A: Alright, this is what I think.......... LET's MAKE AN ALL WHITE VF-1!

/crickets

/slowclap

Kool-Aid Man: OH YEAH! (breaks through the wall)

EngineerB: OMG! GIVE THAT MAN A PROMOTION!!!

[Save]

Transcript from Yamato Products Development Board Meeting:

Engineer A: Ok, guys I have the greatest idea for the milk-molding strategy.

Engineer B: Ok.... ?

Engineer A: Ok, ready! This is going to be epic! Are you REALLY READY!

Engineer C: Yeah! Enough with the suspense!

Engineer A: Alright, this is what I think.......... LET's MAKE AN ALL WHITE VF-1!

/crickets

/slowclap

Kool-Aid Man: OH YEAH! (breaks through the wall)

EngineerB: OMG! GIVE THAT MAN A PROMOTION!!!

OK that even made me bust out laughing. :lol: :lol: What's really funny is that I was at the Yamato office on Friday and they had put up a whole new entrance wall, guess that's where the Kool-Aid Man busted in from.

[jenius]

I don't understand...

Instead of a middleman which works in large quantity (distributor/retailor) and cheaper overhead/item, you introduce a middleman which works in smaller quantity (order from web and forward it to you) and charge for a crazy amount. And there is no competition - shops, Japan or other regions, do not sell at the MSRP. Often there is a discount on top of the MSRP in Japan, and it's more volatile outside Jap. If it's a web exclusive, the one company control all the supplies and thus the price.

It doesn't have to be in plain brown box, and last time I've heard it's cheaper than the standard valks. Definitely not at twice the cost!

I don't get what middleman I'm introducing? Yamato's website is not a middleman, it's their direct sales channel.

I'm going to keep this all in the context of my original suggestion which I'm not sure you're doing. Obviously it doesn't HAVE to be in a brown box... it doesn't HAVE to be made in any way. We're also talking about a toy that would NEVER EVER IN A MILLION YEARS succeed in large quantities. A partially assembled all blank valk isn't the kind of thing that is going to fly off the shelves... it's something a very tiny fraction of the hobby would want for customizing. Most customizers probably wouldn't even be interested since they're usually also modelers. Soooo... Yamato could offer this tiny niche product to retailers and would likely be snubbed by the vast majority of them. "How many orders do you want of a partially assembled, no frills quasi-toy packaged in a plain brown box and aimed at .05% of the fandom? Each case comes with at least six." By keeping it a web exclusive they get to roll out tiny production runs at a time, throw them in the cheapest box possible, and dictate the price that that .05% is going to have to pay. Obviously they're competing with their already made toys that regular retailers are selling so the price they could charge would be extremely limited. The can't charge you $90 for a partially assembled toy when you can buy the fully assembled and painted toy for the same thing.

The other option is to make it a regular release, completely finish it, paint the pilot, give it a nice box, and charge you the same MSRP as every other toy but make it readily available. It would probably sell pretty terribly and the customizers will have spent more money just to tear the toy apart anyway. Granted, that's the much more likely way it will go. I think the problem here is that you think a web exclusive HAS to cost YOU more money (and if you live outside of Japan, you may be right) but if you look at it from Yamato's perspective, they could easily charge much less for their Japanese customers and cut out middlemen entirely on a product that with middlemen likely is an immediate failure.

[EXO]

lol. you guys are arguing how to sell it already? What MW won't argue.

All I said it that it would be a nice option AFTER they are done milking the mold.

[ff95gj]

I don't get what middleman I'm introducing? Yamato's website is not a middleman, it's their direct sales channel.

The problem is... The Yamato web site only sells inside Japan.

So the new middlemen are the people who get the goods in Japan and ship to overseas. Just like the Overdrive and HLJ now... And we know they charge more for web exclusive items.

P.S. We are not arguing, really! Just clarifying thoughts.

[BlueMax]

The problem is... The Yamato web site only sells inside Japan.

So the new middlemen are the people who get the goods in Japan and ship to overseas. Just like the Overdrive and HLJ now... And we know they charge more for web exclusive items.

P.S. We are not arguing, really! Just clarifying thoughts.

I agree, Macross webshop exclusives normally are not at all beneficial to fans outside of Japan. Basically Yamato is charging full MSRP for webshop patrons.

For us overseas buyers, we have to rely on 3rd parties to get them for us (HLJ, overdrive or otherwise). They get charged MSRP just like anyother buyer nad they will re-sell to us with a considerable mark-up or convenience fee(understandable since they have to stay in business).We have seen that from all the webshop exclusives so far, and the general conclusion is web exclusives do not benefit non-japanese fans.

Edited October 26, 2009 by BlueMax

[jenius]

I understand the gripe with the common website exclusive. If it's a product that could be sold successfully through retail channels then making it a website exclusive does seem like a money grab when the manufacturer goes the direct sales route. It makes matters much worse for people outside of Japan because they then pay the mark-up and two shipping fees.

The only reason I would argue FOR the website exclusive on the unfinished pure white valk is because I can't see it ever being a successful toy through standard retail channels. Retailers wouldn't want to stock this model-like toy (outside of the mega model/toy retailers) and as such the orders to Yamato would be tiny. If Yamato gets rid of those retailers and keeps the mark-up themselves then they can theoretically stay profitable while producing roughly HALF the number of units through the exclusive channel.

Since I don't live in Japan the exclusive channel would only benefit me in that I would rather see this happen and be an exclusive (even if after 'finders fees' the toy costs about the same as a finished VF-1 for non-residents) then not be made at all. Again, Yamato could complete the toy, put it in a fancy box, and charge full MSRP. Price-wise you'd definitely have to pay full MSRP and then take the toy apart. It's kind of a six of one, half a dozen of the other argument with me saying that I just think in the six of one approach there's more likelihood of it actually happening.