Valkyrie addict

BAD ASS weathering!

LOL... well, the Arcadia scheme matched perfectly with the kit kat I had in there

I can't possibly imagine how that could happen...

I ask because the hinge on the backpack, part B13 uses some friction to help hold the backpack still in gerwalk and battroid, so any extra coat of paint layer will peal and it would be horrible to see the paint scheme get damaged unless you've think of a way around this? You could sand the area it goes to give some recess to it, but I don't know if this will affect the backpack firmness on battroid.

Looking good! do you plan to leave this in fighter mode??

Gorgeous F/A-18F!!

That VF-1A Max has been sitting there since the buying frenzy started and ended they never sold out. Contrary to the picture, it's the standalone version with no FP. I am actually missing a VF-1A Max DYRL, it's a fantastic price but I decided that I will not buy anymore VF-1's since Arcadia is already releasing them with more stuff, so unless I see v2 VF-1's for less than a 100 I won't buy them and wait for Arcadia eventual re-release no matter how long it takes or if it's a rare one or I really really need it. There's been a sudden influx of Yamato's lately going for nice prices on ebay since the 30th finally got released.

I tried with a magnet on the Yammies and on the Arcadia, the pieces are a non-magnetic alloy. I decided to put it on the snack fridge I keep nearby so I wouldn't forget and leave it all day in there, the piece did get cold and frosted more than the plastic. So it's pretty safe to say it's metal, what kind of metal? hard to tell without damaging the paint. So no need to panic. Now I have a sweaty condensated valk...

WOW!!! so freaking awesome.

LOL, I would but I don't want to chip it.

I only pointed it because everyone here is paranoid and I don't want to start a panic. Anyway, I went and checked the valk again, like I said, the look different, but feel as strong as metal, solid and do not bend, maybe they used a powdered coat process for a better finish instead of the gloss coat they used before, maybe it's a different metal alloy that allowed it to be dyed instead of painted. I gonna go on a limb and say now that the part is not plastic and most likely metal, what I'm not sure now is how they painted. Everything about this valk feels better quality and finish, so in my opinion, I don't feel they've gone cheaper on anything. But I would like other people to see/feel the part and confirm it is still metal.

I'm not really sure if it's plastic or a different kind of metal, it feel as strong as always but I'm no expert on this so if someone more knowledgeable could clear this. I'm not saying I'm 100% sure if not metal anymore, so don't go press the panic button by something I'm not entirely sure, it looks different but feels strong as always. I've also pointed out a few times how the tampo finish is much better and crisp compared to the old Yammies, I took some pics for comparison, notice how the tampo bleed on the Yammies compared to how crisp they are on the Arcadia 30th. ALSO.... Did someone say FAST PACKS??? I meant "LSD" not LCD, hehe

Finally got time to take pictures. I gotta say, the scheme is rather unique and quite the eye catcher in person, so far I'm liking it more than expected. Mini review: - Tenjin boxart sleeve just plain gorgeous, once you take it out it reveals a minimalistic simple box design with the flap to lift and show the inner contents. - Valk comes covered in plastic to protect the tampo scheme similar to how the Yamato weathered valks came. - New manual design, this time with a vertical flip book style with much needed improved transformation instructions. - Both regular and waterslide decals. - Comes with the stand that as dumb as it looks it serves its purpose very well and takes little space to display, it also comes with a smaller stand to add an included decal as a sorta plaque denoting the 30 anniversario. I wouldn't mind if it were possible to get this stands apart to display the old Yammies. - Option parts are black and blend very well with the scheme. - The tampo print is simply amazing, my hats off to Arcadia for taking Tenjin's design to real life so flawlessly. - You will also notice that in all three modes, the tricolor (Roy, Hikaru, Max) scheme flows continuously and the big Macross kite is somewhat visible. - There are some tampo that just went above and beyond, the tricolor scheme in the knee, the small tips of the kite in the piece right behind the canopy, also on the canopy shield and on the freaking hinge that holds and moves the backpack. - I noticed some small changes in the finish to the old Yammies, the pilot seat is not tan anymore, is a more militaristic olive drab color, don't know if this is a one off or will this be a standard now for all VF-1's. The leg swing bar and part of the chest breast plate, in the old yammies this part were metal and had a gloss coat paint, it appears this part are plastic now (not sure) but they are not gloss coated anymore and the color matches exactly with the rest of the colored areas. In the end, this Valk is beautiful in its uniqueness, I'm happy I got two of this and I for one feel is a successful way for Arcadia to start/continue the new era of Macross toys. Thank you Arcadia. On to the pictures.

You can mask and paint instead of using the decal but it's much easier and faster to use them. The hasegawa are good quality decals and end up looking great as long as you use decal softener/setter and add a clear coat over for everything to end up looking even. The white skull decal looks great. If you'd rather paint the skull, please, show us how cause it would be awesome!

I wanna post pics but I've been busy all weekend with little time for pictures Only pictures I've taken is when it arrived in the HLJ box. but the boxart is very nice and, I am too, scared to even transform it. Just taken it out and put it in the stupidly silly east stand that actually does a very good job at displaying such a unique scheme in a unique way.

LOL!! I must be getting too old now where my mind merges different decades into one, don't know why I always remembered the v1's being released in late 90's. Thanks for clarifying my mistake EXO.

there's the old Yamato Q-Rau discussed here, it was made in the late 90's I think after the v1 Vf-1 I think, based on DYRL. There's the non scale Bandai modified Q-Rau used by Klan-klan in Macross Frontier made recently. sithlord, that's a beautil M&M shrine...you're just missing their 1J's and virgin road.

lol, can't get better details than with the 1/48 Hasegawa. Soooooooo Graham......does this means you have contact with Arcadia now?

ah..that's the thing, pull the legs off so the canopy could close, thanks.

The blue Max Q-Rau doesn't come with the max pilot figure. I think you have to do a slight mod to the CMS Max figure to fit in the Q-Rau.

And the little red ghost.....X9

I got mine!! will see if I can post pics later tonight or tomorrow.

Such nice collections everyone!!

LOL!! my post was a joke but you never know what can happened in the future. I myself never would have imagined we'd have such amazing toys from Yamato/Arcadia. After the VF-4G everything is possible.

Graham heavily hinted on the eve of the VF-4G launch that Yamato was working on a v2 YF-19 and a v2 Macross Zero line, one already came true, so I guess the other VF's they're working on is the Zero line. I don't expect Arcadia to reissue off balls like the VF-1D Virgin Road, VF-1A Cavalier, etc., but they'd be fools if they don't reissue the VF-1J M&M...with Option parts!!!