VF-1A Grunt

That looks awesome! Can we start a rumor that Hasegawa is going to offer a 1/72 U.N. Spacy vehicle set based on the little “jeep” getting flung about in this artwork?

I’ve been watching this guy’s excellent but simple tutorials on painting 1/35 figures. He just uses a simple colored dot. He mentions in most of his videos that trying to paint the whites of the eyes will come out looking weird and bug-eyed even at that scale. https://youtube.com/@spruesnbrews?si=oQlbZEyoL3exLVB9

I have to say, I much prefer Hasegawa’s box art, but I’m really liking the PLAMAX line as a “anime fun” and easier to build companion to Hasegawa’s models.

The armored VF-1J was introduced in SDFM Episode 9 with the Ms. Macross pageant when Minmay was depicted wearing that swimsuit. Hikaru is sent on his recon mission in the armored Valkyrie while the pageant is taking place. I like how both PLAMAX and Hasegawa are including the figures to evoke the memories of the events that took place when each of these models appeared.

I see the head sprue has both the Milia face and the blank visor. We should see a regular female Rau in the near future.

I’m hoping to visit Japan again next summer. As that trip gets closer, I’m definitely going to wait to buy some things or maybe have them shipped to family in Tokyo so they’ll be waiting for me.

It would say the models’ relative sizes look pretty comparable to the scene where Max in his VF-1S fights Milia in the hallway of the Meltrandi ship in DYRL. There’s definitely a lot of anime magic going on there.

I’d commit to buying six Spartans if Wave would do it in 1/72. I’d be ok with PLAMAX or Hasegawa, but I like the idea of the same manufacturer producing it so it matches the scale and “style” of the other Destroids.

I'm sure I'm sounding like a broken record, but I'm still hoping for a 1/48 VF-1D fighter from Hasegawa. I really like the unique 2-seater cockpit and want to build some of the repurposed VF-1Ds depicted in the Master Files books, like the SVF-37 in a subdued gray scheme with missile loadout.

Maybe I’m being cynical, but I figured they realized they have all the parts already - VT-1 body, fighter arms, and Gerwalk arms and legs - so all they needed for this kit is the artwork and figures. They can create a new model from a key part of the movie with minimal investment in new tooling. I pre-ordered one primarily because of the figures. On my long list of diorama ideas (most of which I’ll probably never get to) is a flight line scene on Earth with a small crowd of pilots and ground crew gathered around a shiny new VT-1 (in fighter mode without FAST packs), sitting beside two older VF-1Ds. I want to depict the arrival of the new trainer variant alongside the old version.

Thanks, I’ll just order one kit for now. I may just do it in the standard colors regardless. I’ve never been a huge fan of the “hero” schemes because I like the generic and squadron schemes to represent regular pilots in the series. I’m guessing that if they offer the standard version, it will just have the blank faceplate like the movie version.

That looks fantastic so far! I have that kit, still unopened in the box. I've never even looked at the parts. I didn't think my modeling skills were up to the challenge when I bought it years ago, so I've been putting off doing anything with it. I did get a set of canopies from member Goodman Models a couple years ago. Maybe it's time to open the kit and at least see if all the parts are intact!

Very cool, I'm glad to see both of these new models. It's interesting how the VT-1 product description says, "The kit is composed of parts that allow you to choose between the Gerwalk Fighter and the Gerwalk." I assume that means it will include the arms tucked in for Fighter mode as shown in the product artwork or the arms extended out like normal Gerwalk mode (which I don't think was ever shown in the movie). It was always interesting to me how it was portrayed in the movie, that Hikaru only extended the legs when they landed and never fully transformed it into Gerwalk mode. I don't know much about the Queadluun Rau appeared in the TV series and only really have the Macross Mecha Manual to reference. It doesn't appear to me that the standard Queadluun Rau has any detail differences vs. Millia's. Here's the "Standard Battle Colors" version from the Macross Mecha Manual. I'm considering ordering two kits so I can do one in this color scheme as a "wingman."

I’m glad I decided to have HLJ ship my models a few weeks ago, since they sent out a notice yesterday that they are halting shipments to the U.S. while they figure out how the new tariff process will work. I requested the shipment via EMS on August 8, they shipped it on August 16 (it was actually accepted on August 18), and it arrived on August 25. Of course, a number of other items have arrived since I requested the shipment, but HLJ says they will hold things indefinitely in the Private Warehouse until the tariff process is resolved.

I’ve had one of those sets saved in my Amazon cart for a few years. I wanted to compare the weapons to Hasegawa’s, but I was always reluctant to order it because I assumed the Bandai Super leg and arm parts wouldn’t fit properly with any other brand.