CF18

Hobby Japan high-res scan.

Exactly. They "finished" them so that they will not have their 1:60 and cheaper 1:100 in the same "just released" box pile. They may also have some agreement with Bandai to avoid overlapping release, so that they can release some Macross 7 units. High-res vesion of the scan - high enough to read the text.

Hobby Japan Jan 2010

(May as well use this thread until a merge) Another small scan. I think this is why Yamato has been releasing their 1:60 VF-1 like mad - 9 VF-1 (& fast packs) in 2008 July to Dec, 17 VF-1 in 2009 not counting any exclusive or reissues. They know Bandai have the license to make new VF-1 starting at 2010.

Wave 3 prototype from Hobby Japan.

You probably need to wait another month or two. That event was for showing price toys to be released from April to June, so that Ranka fig will probably be released a month after the Sheryl figure, i.e. April or later.

http://hobby.dengeki.com/hobbykan/hobbykan0911-3.html 1:60 v2, 15540 yen Edit: Translated news from Ngee Khiong: http://ngeekhiong.blogspot.com/2009/11/dengeki-hobby-model-graphix-january.html It is a "Dengekiya" limited version. Japanese customers can order from that web site directly without buying a magazine to get a mail-order coupon.

Actually no, the plastic quality is similar, but Hasbro TF subject their toy to more safety focused design, so they have no pointy sharp fin and only have weak spring loaded guns. I have a small numbers of Yamato and TFs, and oddly enough only a TF suffered breakage - back hinge on a transmetal megatron broke when I was careless. A few of my Yamato suffers from lose hinge (YF-19, SV-51) or poor fit (1:60v1 VF-1A), but no pieces have broken yet.

Complete info: http://www.yamato-toys.com/items/detail.php?gid=1445 1:60 GBP-1A with Hikaru VF-1J (gray visor guard, no launch effect parts) - 16,800 yen, 2009 December, public release. http://www.yamato-toys.com/items/detail.php?gid=1471 1:60 GBP-1A with missile launch effect part - 6,800 yen, 2009 December, Yamato online shop exclusive (Japan only). For most of us those Japan only exclusive mean ban-over and pay the high price to proxy service or secondary market. However HLJ recently started carrying some older Yamato exclusive product at regular price to us oversea customers. We will see if they will carry the GBP stand alone pack in the future.

Bandai: "Skip that cheap and ugly revoltech, wait for us!" It does look way better than the transformable revoltech in both modes.

Full size image: A toy for sure, given the screw holes. And given the large size of screw holes, and ハイメタル translate into "high-metal", yet it's Bandai VF HI-METAL. Looks quite good acutally.

Wave 2 is out: http://www.toysdaily.com/discuz/thread-114651-1-1.html Secret unit:

Out of box look of the completely unpainted: source

1/60 VF-22S Sturmvogel II Gamrin Kizaki on sale at HLJ: http://www.hlj.com/product/YMT00168 30% off (13,160 yen), free EMS shipping if paid by paypal, 12 remaining.

Jan 15th. http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?...st&p=800904

Well there are other stuff too: > Armor Plus EX-Gear Alto - unique and well received. > 1:250 Fighter Collection - Overpriced, cover ignored series. > DX Quarter - releasing soon, unique and looking good. > Banpresto display models - new release. Looks so-so. And there are figurines too. The biggest negative are the exclusive and limited lucky draw figures.

It is 15.6 times in volume - it's a 3D object, not a string. The ship mode is 60cm long, so it will not shrink into 35cm after transforming. Try this 60cm tall stature instead for comparable size. It is obviously too big for most of the market since the beginning.

Their reply to my email:

But the "1/1" match the 1/1 price on Yamato's site, and HLJ already listed the red bike helmet separately: http://www.hlj.com/product/YMT09034

http://www.hlj.com/product/BNP46456 http://www.amiami.com/shop/?set=english&am.../e_display.html Appears to be sold out in all online stores in Japan that I know. I found two from HK that don't say out of stock: http://www.angolz.com/home/productDetails....?PLU=0000108281 http://www.locushk.com/index.php?sp=&p...re=〈=en And from USA: http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product...amp;mode=retail http://www.toyslogic.com/index.php?main_pa...products_type=1

We should wait for some official words from HLJ or Yamato. We are not really sure if they are a speical HLJ exclusive or general release. To be fair, I think those products were exclusive to Yamato online shop, not limited number one-time releases. Some 1:55 collector were surely unhappy over the extreme price they paid for their old 1:55 when Bandai reissued some units 8 years ago. Remember their Macross license only have distribution right inside Japan, so they could not sell them directly to us from Yamato online shop if they wanted to. Now they let HLJ sell them which will be cheaper for us, but it is less profitable per unit for Yamato too since HLJ will get their cut.

Yeah it is weird that toy-wave's mark-up is really low. May be they also get a side deal. HLJ also have all 3 1:1 helmet listed for Feb 2010 release. http://www.hlj.com/product/YMT05009 http://www.hlj.com/product/YMT05010 http://www.hlj.com/product/YMT05011 Although the photos are the bike helmet, not what it should be? http://www.yamato-toys.com/items/detail.php?gid=1428

What toy-wave and angolz have is different: they buy from Yamato online shop at full retail, and then add their own markup on them. What HLJ have here is new - no extra markup, you pay the same money as someone in Japan would to Yamato online shop, plus shipping minus sale tax.

Cool! Looks like a special arrangement made between HLJ and Yamato to sell limited products to oversea customers. I can't find the same products on www.hlj.co.jp (Japan only version of HLJ), or amiami.com (which usually list new product faster than HLJ), or any other stores.

That may not be true. Stronger material usually have higher melting point and need different class of mold. LEGO can't match the low price of lower quality clones like Megablok with out downgrade from ABS, and lower mold precision and QC standard. As for those crass comments, feel free to buy from Toynami/Bandai/Kaiyodo instead. These are not some chemically addictive drug, and Yamato is not the only game in town. If Big West is not happy with what Yamato is doing they can find someone else.