Midi_Amp

Got mine yesterday and had a mixed feeling about it. Details are awesome, everything locks in place, got a nice heft to it, solid-solid-solid. Batroid mode is super excellent, but the fighter mode... Gah... A valk without its gunpod in fighter mode is like an eagle without its claws. I was planning to buy 2, but the missing gunpod attachment left me wanting. Well, considering this is a patch work from the previous VF19kai, I should give them credits. The display stand and missile bays are a great bonus but Bandai could just easily gives us a gunpod attachment. Something that plugs in between the arms and holds the gunpod by the handle (rant over). All in all, a great toy, especially in batroid mode. My second VF Hi-Metal and definitely not the last!

Nope, it's plastic. But quite a cool one, it's extendable to allow better lateral hip movement.

Big pic! Thanks... Worried about the backpack being loose if it's not locked with the extra strike pack weight. So it's either the backpack going to weigh very very light or Bandai put an extra locking mechanism on the VF-1S (please be the latter).

Officially my early Christmas present! Hoping that the strike pack is removable... And is my eyes deceiving me? The gunpod in that fighter mode seems to be positioned lower than the VF-1J, making it pointing straight instead of nose pointing. Seems those slits are clear indication of the strike pack.

Ouch, the gunpod doesn't attach in the fighter mode... Kind of kill the buzz for me. But anyway, I already commit one from amiami and looking from Graham pictures, it's going to be love hate thing... I prefer to tuck my Macross toys in their fighter form, and no gunpod equals sideway smiley face.

I'm really hoping Bandai does a complete series of the Macross 7, the 17, 11, 5000, even the varautas. Well, one can dream. The thing that I like with smaller scales is that it allows odd size characters to be made without busting somebody's wallet. The varautas variable fighter towers over the valks, and the 1/100 scale increase the likelihood they will be made to public.

The arms and legs have slits that looks like something can be attached to, not surprised if Bandai do a strike valk. Basically Bandai's going to milk the VF-1 mold if the current model sales number is good, and amiami VF-1 HiMetal stock is out. So the possibility is quite good (unless amiami stock just a few of them).

Got mine today and I'm super happy. My first VF-1 and it's as perfect as imagined it. No qc issue with mine, but I do have a bit of glue stain on the tail section. Solid joints, great details, very detailed option hands, and the thigh... Woohoo the thigh expandable joints is a testament to Bandai's amazing technical prowess. About the side covers, I really don't care much of it. I like how the cockpit is exposed and I can see the jet/robot thing. But I do dislike the huge gap between the neck and the backpack. Small this might be, it's in the same scale of my master grade Gundam collection. The later years Gundam especially from F91 onwards (just so happen being my main line of collection) are Just around 15 meters, the same size as valks. I'd post a pic of the VF-1 with my mg victory gundam, but I got no Internet connection at home and I don't know how to tether my iPhone to my notebook. Long story short (pardon the pun) the VF-1 is right at home. Very satisfied with the Hi-Metal VF-1, here's hoping Bandai would make the Blazer Valk gunpod attachable in fighter mode.

Hmmm... I think I'll order 1 first just to be sure and get another when I'm satisfied. Bandai already surprised us with the leg missile bays. The leg mold definitely needed to be retooled to allow it to be partially removed like that. So why stop there? Here's hoping Bandai insert magnets on the gunpod and on the arms so we can have it attached to the fighter mode without awkward looking attachments.

So, is there a clear confirmation yet whether the gunpod can be attached to the underside of toy in fighter mode? The Cybergundam website picture shows a little bit of something stuck below the fuselage in fighter mode... But that's shown with the action base. Action base usually employs a special clip to display an attachment, like Bandai 1/72 Macross F model kits. But looking at the smooth underside of VF-19Kai, I don't think there's a place for a clip to be put there. So most likely the Blazer Valk just "sits" on top of the action base roots? Like Graham I'm planning to buy two of these... But I just want to make sure first with the gunpod attachment.

Sorry, what I meant is the VT-1 Super Ostrich. Somehow I tend to generalize VF-1s with all of its variants. The street price for a Yamato 1/60 VF-1s V2 hovers around US$120-160, including shipping and tax. Heavy and big packages netts extra cost. For the Hi-Metal VF-1, because the total price and shipping cost is below 5000 Yen (300+ gram package helps), I can get it basically import tax free

Holy grail? The guy looks like he found true love... If it weren't for the sunglasses the camera will be blinded from the sparkles of his eyes. But frankly, I'll be like that too sometimes this month. It's just that this is going to be my first ever VF-1 in any form. I got mine shipped and taxed for US$55, compared that to US$150+ for a 1/60 Yamato. This toy can really get some panel lines and decals, lucky I have plenty leftovers from Gundam kits.

I still have to wait two weeks for mine but this is my first ever VF-1 toy... The anticipation is killing me! But so far the reviews are very welcoming. I'm gonna download and print Revoltech's Macross diorama for this one.

Owning one, I'd say it's a good buy for a US$20 display model. I preordered and paid US$80 including shipping and really hate it for what it's worth. It makes a great display model though in fighter mode, very nice details and panel lines. I mistakenly forced one of the gerwalk mode leg joint when transforming and it became dulled and unusable afterward, so I'm stuck with fighter or batroid mode. Articulation in batroid mode is nice, but again... For the price I'm paying it... Not worth the price at all. A couple months back a lot of local hobby shop sells the VF100 line for just US$35. Now at that price, I'll consider it, but the damage is done and VF100 is dead for me. All hail VF Hi-Metal! Preordered the VF-1 Hi-Metal... Boy did I never learn.

Sold! I just put an order on amiami still around a month or so, but my first VF-1... This should be a blast. Strange that the VF-1 is cheaper than the VF-19, even before discount. The VF-1 has extra option hands, missiles and landing gears, while the VF-19 has nothing.

The box size is definitely a sign that this is a complete transformable toy, the old VF100 thick box size is because it houses the extra parts to transform the toy. I just bought SHCM-Pro Unicorn Gundam, and the box size is definitely bigger than the fire valk's, but it's also a partsformer, and the extra space is to house the extra parts. Gonna be a tough decision... Purchase this and let go my Gundam collection or stick to the latter. I have a baby coming in and I have to kill my otaku room to make way for a baby room. I only have so much space to keep what I want (namely it's my home work table )

Seeing the finished products in high res does gives it a bit more perspective. The fighter mode certainly looks awful, but the batroid mode is very nice... The extra movement range seems to give it a more dynamic look. The same goes with Revoltech Arbalest, looked much livelier than Robot Damashii Arbalest. But I'll pass this for Bandai VF100 VF1, as cheap as it might be, I go for scale.

Hmm, on careful observation... It just might be due to the hump indeed. I'd say, I'm giddy about the release; perfect transformation and attention to detail is superb. Here's hoping that the amiami released pictures are production ready, going to hate it when it's available the cockpit hatch is solid + tinted.

Allow me to sharpen & enlarge things up with photoshop... Voila... It does looks like it... You can see the head and the torso, and what seems to be white gloved hands holding a guitar. At least the hand position (if it really are hands) is the classic left hand fret bar, right hand sound hole position. If Bandai does indeed includes Basara pilot figure, this toy level of detail will be insane! 1/100 scale human models are hard to paint, and Bandai is mass producing these. Even if the pilot turns out to be just a blob with smudgy colors, it still needs to be painted manually. Bandai really steps up the game as of late, I call the hi-metal series the true VF100. Positive note aside... Anybody notice that the gunpod is crooked? It's the same with VF100 VF25s.

Yowza! Bandai really fixed everything. For the front landing gear door's looseness, I wedge a tiny thin ply of tissue, and works wonders... Given that actually my VF25 Michel's custom landing gear door is actually not that loose to begin with. Grrr... Couldn't decide to keep collecting the model kit or picking up the hi metal series.

Ouch! That's crazy figure! It seems that Bandai wanted to clear its warehouse from the VF100 VF25 badly. At that price point, it is more attractive, given the nice detail and all.

Agreed, I too care a lot for model size as my display area my wife given to me is quite limited... Living in a studio apartment doesn't help either. If 1/100 is small, I'm limited to 1/144 scale of things, so everything must be small enough without overcrowding my limited space. Purchasing the gigantic 1/144 Dygenguar took quite a space premium on my display area... And I have to let go some of my collection if I want to keep the beast. My VF100 VF25 Alto custom still is decent regarding details as panel lines and colors are as close to the anime counterpart. What Bandai needs to improve is just its transformation, and VF100 should "fly" off the shelf quite nicely. At least Bandai is dead serious about the transformation part... And one more thing... At 6000-7000 Yen, this line is quite affordable, and that's the bottom line. Collecting Macross goods is always a childhood dream of mine but financial difficulties and off course priorities always has been my biggest hurdles. Now with Bandai's offering, I can just do that.

Yup, I was thinking back then when Revoltech announce the Macross line... Are they going to incorporate the revo joints there? It would be bulky as even the smallest revo joints are quite big... Then here it is, in all of its bulkiness. Still though, they could try a little better in term of accuracy. The thigh could just use the smaller revo joints, and the overall fighter mode could shade a little plastic here and there. About the dangling legs, revo joints clicks in place, this might be even better than a locking mechanism, much better than Bandai 1/72 VF-25 at least. Knowing Revoltech (as I collect the Getter Robo series), this will be as durable as heck. I accidentally threw one out from the 3rd floor of my house and it survives the journey with only a minor scratch.

I'll probably pick one up out of curiousity (and because it's cheap), but I want to see some commitment before my next purchase. Hate to see that this is just a one shot try for revoltech. Extend the line to just one other macross series, and I'll collect them all. Accessory wise, the display models doesn't seem able to mount super packs. Well there's the peculiar large nubs on top of the fighter mode, but there's no visible mounting points on the legs or the wings.

Errr... So is the hi-metal line a part of the VF100 or a completely different line? The last time I checked, Bandai is making VF100 VF-19K... A couple months not checking anything Macross related and this Hi-Metal stuff came out. Very nice though, somewhat perfect transformable without the price tag to kill my wallet. Still bitter about importing VF100 VF-25... But seeing the pics, seems this Hi-Metal stuff really delivers the good... But I will wait this time.