Matt Random

Been away for a while. Do these Optional Part rereleases come with all the same tampo printing as the earlier releases? Is the quality an improvement over the earlier releases? Wish Yamato would have done the Strike version of the Hikaru VF-1S.

That is something I am worried about with all of these. The plastic just doesn't seem that great. I suspect the white will be prone to yellowing.

I'm reconsidering. The joints are a concern as is the paint rubbing. I also very concerned that this type of bright white plastic is going to yellow over time.

This is just my opinion, but I do consider it the same thing. I think the joints should be engineered to handle the stress - be it from a limb opposing gravity for a long period or from someone unintentionally applying a little extra force to a joint. I'm very careful with my toys, but there is a learning curve when it comes to understanding the range of motion of a newly optioned toy. I could care less what opinions someone puts forth in a review or what score they assign. I just look at the cons that are presented and decide if that would matter to me. QC issues kept me away from Yamato for a few years. I'm glad I was sitting it out during all the shoulder issues of the 1.60 V2. QC/durability are making me consider limiting my Bandai collection to a single valk. These things are $200 items so I expect some level of fit, finish and long term durability. I don't expect a Tonka truck, but I also don't expect the item to fail under normal use (posing, occasional transformation)

Checked mine last night after it had been in a static pose for a couple of weeks. Left shoulder no longer has any friction. Both hips sagged as soon as I touched the legs. Both still hold a pose as long as none one touches it - for the time being at least. Will try to tighten stuff up when I get time.

I think they are playing on my fears. I would prefer to skip the VF-25F and get an Ozma, but there is no way I am letting my preorder for the F go until the S is announced. I can't see Bandai not doing more given how well the F preorders seem to be selling.

I have these on preorder, but the more I look at it the less I like it. Just too haphazard and clunky looking - and not in a good way. FAST Packs always look a bit silly and clunky, but this one lacks charm.

I dumped my whole Macross collection back when the rumors of the 1/60 VF-1 v.2 first started. Partly because my interested where shifting, partly because I was tired of the QC crap shoot and partly because I fed up with the constant relaunch of the new and improved version. I felt I did OK on recouping my investment. A lot of the v.1 1/60 went for near nothing whereas some of the 1/48s sold for well over what I paid. The old 1/72 Mac+ surprised me since I made quite a bit more on a couple of them then I paid. I held on the TRU 1/60 VF-1A CF since I knew that it would go for next to nothing and I had paid a small fortune for it. Overall, I cam close to breaking even so I was happy about that. I then moved on the Hot Toys for a while. Oddly enough, I was driven away for the same reasons - questionable QC and incessant releases of improved versions. This time I got lucky since I started collecting HT a little before they really took off. Most everything I had bought held value or even increases 2-3x. Note that I didn't buy either collection with the intent of selling it later. But when you do get tired of something and decide to sell it is nice to get something back to put back in the kitty for future purchases. Now that I am back into Macross (I'm a sucker) I see a very different market. There is just too much stuff at this point. If the exact model or type that you want is too expensive there are plenty of near identical substitutes - many of which that may go for considerably less. How many VF-1 variations does one really need? The same goes for the VF-19, VF-22, VF-25, etc. And do I really need the same thing in 1/48, 1/60, 1/72 and 1/100 scale? I got plenty of odd looks from friends that came over and noticed I had the exact same thing in various sizes. Someone even made a comment about the Papa, Mama and Baby robot jet family. The persistent QC issues don't help either. I wouldn't consider the VF-25 V.1, most of the Zero line and much of the early VF-1 v.2 line due to known QC issues. So my rambling aside, I prefer for my collectible toys to maintain some value but I never buy something with the express intent of later selling it for a profit. That is lunacy. Anything marketed as collectible most probably won't appreciate much since many of the people who buy it do so because it collectible. I won't be surprised if 20 years down the road that the most highly sought after collectibles will be Gameboys and iPods since these are the treasured possessions of children today.

Not that it matters now since it is sold out. But I just received the VF-0A and it is indeed the rerelease box.

I broke down and ordered it from AmiAmi. I was thinking of getting the S instead, but I really prefer the super packs to the full armor and who knows if Bandai will release properly colored super packs for the Ozma's S.

I got mine a couple of days ago. I really like it. I am impressed with how solid the toy feels. All the gimmicks are a lot of fun. I have been through one transformation cycle with no paint chipping. All the clearances seem adequate except maybe for the shoulders in fighter mode. That may just be a factor of a tight joint and my lack of familiarity of range of movement of the joint assembly. The key with avoiding scratching on the head is being aware that there are separate and distinct slide and lift movements. One movement must be completed before the other. For conversion to battroid be sure to slide the head back all the way before lifting it (directions depict this well). When going to fighter be sure that the head is pushed all the way down before trying to slide it forward. The key is making sure that the double hinge is in the proper position prior to sliding (look from the bottom of the toy). This hinge is very tight on mine. Time will tell if floppiness arises, but at this point I would say that the joints are too tight if anything. Especially the hips and shoulders.

I agree. To me Yamato VF-19 kai Mac7 just screams toy as do most of the Mac 7 designs. I think it is probably the blocky proportions and bright colors. The Mac F designs also tend to look more like toys to me due to pin stripping and all the SMS markings. SMS valks tend to be more akin to a race car rather than a military aircraft. Bandai valks are definitely glossy, which adds to the toylike appearance, but I think this works well for the flashy SMS designs - the YF-29 in particular. The Bandai glossiness will start to bother me if a VF-171 comes along since I feel that NUNs birds should be matte like standard military aircraft.

Probably a fair number of indecisive buyers like me too. Should I get the F or the G or the S or should I wait for a super or armored bundle. I'm also waiting until my YF-29 arrives to decide if I want more from this line. Who am I kidding? I'll want more.

You and me both. Unfortunately, I can't find it for less than $300 shipped.

Just received the payment request from HLJ. I managed to get my order in when the preorder reopened briefly before being marked as Discontinued.

HLJ didn't get enough to fill the initial orders. They told me they have no ETA for more. BBTS still has a preorder, but who knows when they will get it. The price is high compared to Asia sellers, but much less than the going eBay price.

I used to heavily collect Valks. I gave up due to soaring prices and plummeting QC. I switched to HT, but have since given up due to soaring prices and plummeting QC. Now I'm back to valks Valks are great if you want little engineering marvels. HT is great if you want little people. Neither are toys. That last picture really makes me want to get a VF-27! I doubt I'll be able to resist the VF-25G v2 if the improvements are all there. Why oh why does Frontier have to be such an enjoyable show?!?

HLJ opened the preorder again if anyone is still looking. Looking forward to getting mine.

Thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately looks like they have stopped preorders too.

Anywhere still have this for preorder?

I'd prefer that it not have the fancy seat. That leaves an ugly gap behind the VF-0 seat that the YF-19 and 1/48 VF-1 don't have.

The 1/60 stuff gets more expensive with each release. The Zeros certainly weren't cheap and the SV-51 set a new record. I'll be amazed if the new 1/60 VF-1 series is less than a hundred w/o fast packs. The ever increasing prices are what has almost driven me away from Macross collecting. I'm also not crazy about paying for extra parts I don't need such as stand adapters, stands and extra paintable cunards instead of getting something truely useful such as fold booster batteries. I have a single 1/48 strike, a single Zero w/ ghost and a single 19 with fast packs. All I plan on getting this year is a single 1/60 strike and perhaps an 11 if that comes out. This stuff is too expensive to get multiples of a particular model or to get models that I'm not all that crazy about like the SV-51 and the YF-21.

I just hope that the Hikaru Strike is the third or fourth one to be released. It is the only single seater I want and being third or fourth means most of the bugs should be worked out.

I don't feel so bad about having reduced my 1/48 collection to a Hikaru Strike. I don't think any VF-1 will ever top the 1/48 with the nice looking pilot (1/60 pilots looked scrunched) and all the interior detail on the fast packs. I'll probably get a Hikaru Strike and a Super Ostrich from this 1/60 line to have a couple of valks in the same scale and style as the rest of my Yamato stuff. I'm sure that cost will prevent me from getting more. Yamato's prices keep increasing so I can't imagine this will be less than $100.

And the second or third release that doesn't fall apart when you look at it.