ghostryder

Where's the back seater's instrument panel/shroud? Looks like Minmay's feet are scrunched against the back of Hikaru's seat.

Source? Isn't the bottom rear edge of the canopy shaped differently than the 1-seaters?

That's because it's the same old recycled pics Yamato is using. With the relase date approaching (Feb 09?) and no new pics, I doubt there will be any change to the nose. Alas, we got stuck with giraffe-necked single-seater battroids for nothing...

Well I guess that demonstrates the variability in production - my VF-0A cannon fodder was just as floopy in fighter mode as my v1 VF-0S.

Really? My understanding was the ghost combo VF-0S had fixed the floppy fighter issue? That's the one thing that bugged me the most about the VF-0 fighter, that I could NOT fix - the loose tabs connecting the intakes to the fuselage plate, and the loose tolerances between the nose-heatshield-chest plate. I was totally waiting for v2 of the stand-alone VF-0S. I guess I 'll pass if it's going to have a broken back.

Yup, my first plastic model was the very same hornet. The original prototypes had leading edge wing notches and LERX slots right? Funny thing is that model was so old, it actually had a YF-17 nose profile.

Can I change my vote to broken?? The dreaded left shoulder hairline crack due to spur-side of pin pointing up syndrome just cropped up on mine - maybe it was there all along, and I just haven't noticed. Luckily, it's still as tight as the other shoulder. Also, one of the head laser turrets is loose as a MOFO in fighter mode, it won't stay horizontal. Surprisingly, these issues don't bug me nearly as much as I thought they would. I guess I have a hardened heart after my VF-0S/-0A v1 disasters.

The pure white, plus the fact there's no colored stripe right below the neck, really helps camoflage the priest collar

Is it just me, or is the priest collar less pronounced on the -1J compared to the -1S in the background? Maybe it's just the pose and chest place positioning, all I know is I can't get my -1S to look like that without rainbow canopy peeking out. Damn, the 1J look really good...

Agree - I think there's definitely some leeway in making the nose cone longer and thinner, and still not affect the battroid looks. Comparing to lineart, looks like the toy's crotch is even a hair shorter. Still looks better than the YF-19 overall - you gotta admit that when lining up all these 1/60 M+ toys , the YF-21 will look out of place, with it's super sexy fighter mode and stick-legged battroid mode.

The old 1/60 had a more traditional shoulder assembly/transformation, like the 1/55 chunky. It was solid as heck and locks into place in battroid, but had very limited poseability - the worse of any VF-1 toy. The VF-0 has the same shoulder hinge style as the v2 1/60 VF-1, and hasn't had issues (at that location anyways). It's just a matter of inadequate material thickness, poor material choice, and sloppy assembly QC.

I really wish people would stop re-posting these old pics from a few months back.

Hmmm... looks OK considering all the anime magic they had to overcome, but the small fins and blocky protruding intakes kill the lines of the fighter mode, which happens to be my favorite Kawomari fighter design . The CAD top and side views aren't much better. Battroid looks pretty good, if not exactly line-art accurate.

Wait, these are the same old shots that Miriya posted from a Yamato mag in August. I guess we can stop bitching unitl new pictures arise

It does look different, maybe POM? I thought there were issues molding POM in certain colors, maybe that's why they're grey. No changes to the nose/canopy, yet

It's not just the longer nose, the chest plate and intakes have a more shallow profile on the 1/48 than on the 1/60 v.2. Yes, the latter exacerbates the low-hanging arm effect, but they also both give the fighter an overall sleeker look. To me, the 1/60's fatter chest plate (presumably to cover the taller canopy) and the larger intakes (which help hide the arms) give it a chunky blocky look, especially from a front perspective view. One thing for sure, the 1/48 wins in fighter mode with fastpacks on (IMO). In this mode, the hanging arms are not a factor, and the big long nose helps. I have both and like both for different reasons, I just wish they could have combined the best attributes of both to make the ultimate rendition of the VF-1.

If I had to pick one, I'd say the 1/60 v.2 just from the standpoint of overall anime-accuracy and potential for a complete line. It just irks me that they FUBARed the whole neck area to accomodate 2-seaters, and that didn't even result in an accurate looking VF-1D (thusfar). I would be more irked if/when my 1/60 v.2 shoulders break. The 1/48 is more fun to play with, is more durable, looks more menacing in battroid mode, and looks more sleek and sexy in fighter mode. You gotta have a few of these.