Dobber

Ditto just paid for mine. Chris

Dang Kurt, that's sweet! Chris

The more I look at this the more excited I get for it!! I can't wait to see more pictures. especially a good profile shot which both the YF-21 and the V2 VF-1S had. I agree with you VFTF1 that this Valk does have a pretty staight forward transformation. Hopefully we'll get good QC on this release. Chris

Ok I gotta say that after looking at it more, I really do like it. The issues we all see I can live with since after all this Valk was designed without CAD and such like what was done with M0 and MF so its look does change depending on who was drawing it at the time. Still would have prefered a more rounded look around the legs and the upper intakes though. Chris

Not too bad. What I don't get, though, is that if you need to swap out the cratch peice then why are the legs still in the wrong spot like the 1/60??? I mean transformation has been taken out of the equation so why the wrong placement? Chris

Still no change, still no buy. The nose/canopy just suck IMO. Here's hoping for change that people are thinking may be comming. Chris

I'm on the fence so far. The fighter mode does seem....off for all the reasons already stated (a little stubby, very plain looking, a little boxy looking, and small stabs). I agree with Shin, that I'd have prefered inaccurate transformation, to accomidate larger stabs, to these punny things. Maybe, it's just the perspective, but the intakes look huge in that picture too, (think 1/100 VF-0). I am glad to here Graham say that the picture looks off to him as well, seeing as he's seen the vf-11 already, so I'm still hopefull. Also, looking at the CAD the intakes do look smaller than they apear to be in the pic. If not, I guess the days of having awesome fighter modes are comming to an end in favor of Batt mode. Sad for me, but good for others I guess. Chris

I'm with you Eugimon, Guys all he is trying to say is that this IS NOT and accurate VF-25. Yes you can tell it should be a VF-25 but, I also like what Graham said a few pages back, that we don't need perfection but that some of these inaccuracies are just bad for no reason. Shin, you prove our point when you say that you like this reprisentation better than the actual VF-25 from the anime. That's fine but you are proving our point... it's not accurate. Like Eugi said, that's not subjective it's fact... even stated by you. The legs in fighter mode hanging too low and the strangely shaped nose cone are really the deal breakers FOR ME.... especially the nose cone that just seemed like sloppy work on the sculptors part. Chris

Sorry if this has been asked or talked about already, I wonder if the character designs (not just mecha) will change at all. Like how Misa was redisgned, from SDFM to DYRL Chris

Just got the CD it's fantastic! Now with that said I really hope they release more BGM on OST 3 I really wanted the music that was played at the begining of ep 13 when Alto arrived at Gallia 4, the military march one. Transformation is similar to it but not still not it. Also the music when sheryl kissed Alto in the hut is another great one still missing. Chris

AS for my build I really treating this one as a test build, ie...minimal painting and then just panel-linging. This way I can see what is really exposed an where everything goes, it'll make the subsiquent VF-25 models a little easier. I did give my engine nozzels a custom color, though, and I really like how they turned out. I used decals for the stripes but honestly, I think when I get my Ozma I'm just going to paint the stripes on, more durable that way especially since they are in an area the requires alot of handling to get everything locked together well. I'll also paint the skeleton portions too on my latter 25's. I plan on getting them all and as of now that's another 4 (Ozma, Michael, Luca, and Super Alto) Plus if they make an armored Ozma....good grief!!! Has anyone figured out how to get the hip lazers to stay in place in fighter mode? Mine don't seem sit flush at all leaving a large gap between it and the upper fuselage and also by the intakes. I don't understand what is preventing them from connecting right but it feels like something is blocking them from snaping into place well. Chris

I'm wondering that too. Is the VF-25 model too small for 1/72 or is the pilot just too small? As is, the VF-25 model does seem pretty mall compaired to the Mac 0 valks, still bigger than the VF-1 though. David, no problemo my friend. Chris

Also people are missing the black "V's" on the legs near the cuffs. the panel lined area just below the gear doors is supposed to be black but I've always just seen it panel-lined instead of completley filled in. look at the box pictures and the animation that's inclueded. I had a hell of a time getting the panel-lining to hold there and then I noticed that it is supposed to be totally colored in!! ARG!! Chris

I think I've given up on the show. I have the last 2 episodes on my DVR but I haven't watched them yet and probably won't. I really can not explain why...but I'm just not into it anymore....I guess it's all the hype or something. It just feels to me like what happened with me and ER, I just realised I really didn't like any of the characters all that much and just got really tired of the same old poo in a different package. Peter in the future always seems to be considered a bad guy and yet current Peter is a wuss. The future is horrible yaddi yaddi yadda. I just don't know, but I've lost interest. Chris

Did we ever get some kind of confirmation with that? All the translations I read are kind of iffy, you know google translations and such, cause I could easily see what I read as being misunderstood and the yamato rep was mearly stating the difference between this and the standard VF-1. Just curious not being argumentative, because if they did fix the nose and canopy I would be one HAPPY camper. As of now, though, I'm passing unless it is improved. Chris edit for spelling

That's how I feel Regult. I'm glad there are people who like the DX thus far, but just isn't what I was hoping it would be or really what it should have been...looks wise that is. That's what my gripes are about. I too really hope when it is released it does look much better and it was just poor pictures (doubtful, but you never know). Well, maybe some day we'll get a more accurate looking VF-25 in 1/60 scale. Chris

Nah! I just don't like the canopy, too VT-1ish for me. I seriously doubt that they are redoing the whole nose section to make it more acurate either, especially if they are still showing this one. Chris

I have mixed feelings about MP Grimlock. I understand they are going for the original design look, which I don't neccessarily mind......I am a dinosaur nut and am kind of put off by the old school rendition of a Tyranosaur ie standing uprite with the tail dragging on the ground. Chris

I've heard people say that before, I am fortunate enough to have gotten an Alto VF-25 and have an Ozma on pre-order, I consider myself a pretty descent modeler to boot......BUT.....It is still nice to get a great lookig toy that doesn't require the Hours and Hours of time patiences and money for supplies that is required to make a nice looking model. Chris

Graham, slightly OT. You said that there is a possiability that Bandai may block the license for good...would that apply to the Frontier Movie as well? DYRL seemed to help get things to us maybe the F movie could do the same? Chris

OK, so I'll be realistic. How about they actually make a toy that looks more like the subject then what they have. If they are so concerned about profiting, then they should have put more effort into making a more accurate sculpt, ensuring that more people would buy it. Look, I know that there are many people that are quite happy with the DX so far, but how many of us are also now passing on buying one....or at least not buying nearly as many as they originally would have. The price point they seem to have set these at SEEM to be high for just a toy, being at a more collectors grade type products cost, but the sculpt falls short of what should have been given for said cost. Chris

This really is enverything I was afraid of when we heard Bandai was producing this toy. It may be sturdy and may be 100% qc free, but it still looks like a VF-25 version of the old VF-1 Chunky monkey...(not a fan of that one either outside of nostalgic reasons) guess the long wait for Yamato or anyone else....including Bandai, to make something better has started. The models will hold me over along with the VF-11. If this Toy was priced as a toy, $50-MAYBE $80 range I'd think about getting one. but for $120-140 you gotta be kidding me. Chris

Uhhhh! Glad for those of you that like it but those armoured pics look terrible! As someone else said, the out of place legs just add to the problem and become even more WRONG with the armour. Also the first pic of Alto's VF-25 gives us the first nearly profile shot of this sculpt in fighter mode. IMO it looks WAYYYYYY to fat in the leg area and the nose just looks off somehow too. Overall, YUK for me. Hopefull when this is released people will take good pictures and it will look better, but at this point I'm not holding my breath. Chris

Everything will look better when it's painted up....but the legs in fighter mode are just horrible and the crotch in Batt modd is still WAYYYYY off. I'll wait for reviews to see if I'll consider one as well. As of now though I'm passing as well. I will give Bandai props though for tinting the canopy.....something Yamato hasn't done....lack of gold tint on the SV-51's canopy for example....until the rainbow effect on the V.2 VF-1. Chris

Fantastic build and write up! Thank You!!! I so can't wait for mine to arrive and then also the Ozma! Chris