ghostryder

Right, that was my point as well. With the nose section removeable, they could have easily lengthened the upper half to extend into the chest plate more. The upper half of the nose section and the chest plate have to be a different mold from the 1-seaters regardless, so it's not like it would be more complex or costly to manufacture.

I think what we see is what we get. The 1-seat canopy was made taller to support the bulged out chest plate, which was needed to accomodate the 2-seater cockpit and canopy. I also don't see what people are saying about them extending the canopy forward on the 1D, but these photo angles make it hard to tell. We'll need a legit side-by-side comparison to confirm.

Actually, the 1-seater canopy is the right length, but too tall... and the 2-seater canopy IS too short, but the right height. ...not that MWers are so picky as to notice minor stuff like that

You can get yourself another 1/55 (cheapest used one you can find, maybe a CF) and try the automotive paint after sanding the hell out of it.... or just bite the bullet and get him a old 1/60 v.1 or genuine Millia 1/55 reissue. I mean, the kid only lives once, right? Look what toy depravation did to our generation

Can't my tripod, so these are a bit fuzzy. Anyhoo, even with the 1/60 Super Focker in the house, 1/48 Hikkie -1S with stealth packs is still the baddest mofo in the display case , chicken hands and all . Yes, it fell a couple of times during the shoot.

The stock stickers aren't that bad, as long as you trim off the excess so your sticker edges are sharp, rather than the factory die-cut. I went ahead and put on the minimum markings (001's, pilot name, SDF-1 markings). I've actually transformed it into all modes with and without FAST packs, and have decided to leave it in naked fighter mode next to my 1/48 Hikaru VF-1S . I love the streamlined belly, without the low-hanging arms. I've also come to appreciate the nose/cockpit section profile. After staring at it for a couple of days, it really seems to capture the VF-1 lineart better than the 1/48, which is a bit exaggerated in an F-111 style.

There is hope... (although I just realized that the right skull is a bit higher than the left)

Yes, treatment, that's exactly what mine CANNOT do

Here's what I wrote in the 1/60 VF-1 breakage poll, about the shoulders and swingbar:

OK, transformed from fighter to batttroid and back to fighter. The only thing that irks me is that the gunpod does not attach to the forearm - the hole in the gun is too big, and it just falls off . Gun stays on just fine in fighter mode, at least 4mm off the ground. Other than that, this thing is frackin perfect - all joints are tight, no missing parts, perfect paint and tampo printing, straight skulls, and nicely balanced proporations in all modes - if you don't lock the chest down in battroid, you can minimize the giraffe neck and still have the heatshield cover the canopy completely. Some advice to avoid some of the documented breaking issues: 1. When transforming the arms, be sure to handle the shoulder hinge, not the shoulder ball joint or pulling the forearm. This also holds true for posing the arms - grasp the hinge with one hand while moving the ball joint, to minimize stress on the hinge. Personally, I'm ok with this issue, as I would rather have the ball joint too tight, than flopping all around like my Zero. 2. Swing bar detachment from nose section going from battroid to fighter - as Jenius said, first disengange the swingbar from the back plate. Then if you hold the Valk facing away from you and bend the legs slightly forward, place the feet on your chest and gently apply pressure. This will push the swing bar at just the right angle to pop it free with little effort, and little stress on the nose hatch. I was pleasantly surprise how easy this was to do. Too bad the panel lines are so thin - I can't cheat and use a 0.3 mm pencil like a ususally do .

Mine just showed up at work. I haven't had time to play with it much, but I can say 1 thing... IT HAS TWO STRAIGHT SKULLS!!!!!!!

Swoosh - are you not locking the chest plate down all the way? Makes the too-high head actually look OK. I'm totally stoked about being able to strike a proper DYRL end pose. Those pics are a wet dream

I got my payment request from Kevin today - hope yours comes up soon.

I think his point is that the 0A has the extended giraffe section just like the new VF-1. It's lineart accurate for the zero, but not for the VF-1.

I didn't really notice the crooked right skull, since niether posted a straight-on shot of the right fin (until recently), but you are right. Yamato got it right on the VF-0S and a few select 1/48 runs, why couldn't they get their act together on this one, given all the other QC improvements?? Whenever I get mine, I'm using flat paint to touch up the screws.

So I guess fragile BP8 hinge isn't an issue with the 1/60?? P.S. - I love how the canopy doesn't bulge out on the sides as much as the 1/48

Awsome pics swoosh! We all hate you . Those fighter angles make it look perfect. Dobber - I too have not heard from Kevin.

I think that's the case. With either Kevin and Carlos at LAFToys, you'll have to wait for them to get their stock shipped from oversees (I think), and then once it's in their hands, it's only a matter of a few days for domestic shipping. Never had a problem with either. I've preordered the 1/60 VF-1 with Kev, and will be in the same "boat", so to speak.

Well the legs are skinnier and the head is propped up a bit too high, but other than that I think it still looks more line-art accurate than the 1/48 (and more in-tune with the recent more slender valk battroid styles).

Yes, the indent is deeper on the single seaters, but I don't see how they are going to extend the canopy much more than it already is and fit a hinge, all in this little space (unless they go removeable canopy with no hinge, like the 1/60 V.1).

Godammit, I wish I could customize as well as you while drunk . I'd forgotton how awsome that sundowners VF-0A is.

I just noticed that the heatshield on the VF-1S looks like it's molded in black ABS, rather than that brittle clear plastic and painted underneath like on the 1/48. Nice move!

I don't think the canopy will be longer - they already lengthened the the cockpit section (see VF-1S battroid giraffe neck), and there's no more room for a canopy hinge if they extended the canopy more than it already is. I think this may be the case where the design was optimized for 2-seater, and they fudged the 1-seater canopy/cockpit to fit.

One thing I'm wondering... since they went to the trouble of making the nose section removeable, why couldn't they have used a shorter cockpit for the 1-seaters, and eliminate that giraffe neck syndrome? That would have made the battroid PERFECT. Still lovin' the looks of this thing overall. Always a sucker for the VF-1.

...nevermind