DatterBoy Posted September 11, 2004 Posted September 11, 2004 Hello All, Just wnated to give you guys my first impressions as I just had the opportunity to acquire a couple bandai reissues. 1. It's not Metal. is there a reason why i thouht it would be? I seem to recall a youth where I had an original taka or bandai and it was metal... If that was the case, why are the reissues not metal. Also, I got this for my son's first birthday as Yamato's are too expensive for a 2 year old and I understand the bandai are much more sturdy. 2. Solid tranformation. They may not look as fancy and clean as the Yamato, but when you tranform em, they stay where they are, everything locks. That's the best. 3. Limited poseability. but what did you expect? toys back in those days weren't too concerned about points of articulation. GIJOE was the best there was at the time for posing. 4. Printed details. Really nice. I love how the details are printed on the valk instead of all relying on the sticker sheet. Huge plus. With or witout the sticker sheet applied, it looks pretty darned good. 5. Spring loaded landing gear. Again, was this always the way it was or something they added for the re-issue. I don't recall any sprin loaded action back in the day. 6. 1/55 is pretty huge. Same as Jetfire, of course, only, back in the day (cuz I have this memory of the old valks I had a long long time ago) didn't seem to be this big. Was there a smaller metal valk released a while back. perhaps those were bootlegs? 7. My son can still break this thing. I bought it for a two year old thinking - metal, indestructable, gonna have to rethik that. Anyhow, thought I might share those impressions with you all. BTW, I posted a bit back thepix of my son playing with my yamatos which I allowed him to do for a bit. He basically broke the fin of my custom repaint on the 1/60 by falling on it while playing guns, and he busted a leg off of Rohby's recast... I should have known better. Was hopin these Chunky Monkey's would be the end all of valks, but now that I have my hands on some, I give it 2 or 3 dys till something comes off it... Cheers! Quote
Hurin Posted September 11, 2004 Posted September 11, 2004 (edited) 5. Spring loaded landing gear. Again, was this always the way it was or something they added for the re-issue. I don't recall any sprin loaded action back in the day. My Takas and Bandai's were spring-loaded. . . except for the early-90s re-release of the Super 1S. I think (though I'm not certain) that it had landing gear that just pulled out. Or am I now on crack? I sold all my Bandais and Takas a while back. So I can't even check for myself! Edited September 11, 2004 by Hurin Quote
EXO Posted September 11, 2004 Posted September 11, 2004 It's funny that now, 20 years later, we're still getting first impressions of the Chunky Munky... and it's still good. Glad you finally found it, Dat. It's a great toy, just don't use it for your 3D models.... Quote
Rabidweezil Posted September 11, 2004 Posted September 11, 2004 Yeah the landing gear was always spring-loaded. I remember because I use to have the Hikaru Strike where you had to unscrew the canopy/heatshield to replace it. and the screw for it was what held the front landing gear spring in place.. damn if that thing wasn't a pain in the ass to get the screw back through the hole in the spring and back where it belonged... Quote
UN Spacy Posted September 11, 2004 Posted September 11, 2004 7. My son can still break this thing. You mean that off-white Chunky Monkey he had in that picture (from your other thread)? He broke it already? Explain. Quote
DatterBoy Posted September 11, 2004 Author Posted September 11, 2004 7. My son can still break this thing. You mean that off-white Chunky Monkey he had in that picture (from your other thread)? He broke it already? Explain. Yeah, that's the one. Basically, he took REALLY good care of it. So there's this thing he does, where if I have a gun, and he has a gun, and I shoot him, he pretends as though he got shot and keels over. Well.. he keeled over on the valk while the tail fin was off and.. SNAP!!!... I decided to get him a Chunky Monkey... But.. I also had the impression that it was Metal.. and it's not... :Dat Quote
DatterBoy Posted September 11, 2004 Author Posted September 11, 2004 It's funny that now, 20 years later, we're still getting first impressions of the Chunky Munky... and it's still good. Glad you finally found it, Dat. It's a great toy, just don't use it for your 3D models.... Actually, I thought it might be fun to make a model after this CM, and then animate a fight... The Chunky would of course just stand there and raise his arms up and down while the YAMMIES would try and pose the sucker down... Seriously, both versions have their own charms. :Dat Quote
Macross_Fanboy Posted September 11, 2004 Posted September 11, 2004 Is he aware that it transforms yet? But yeah...when will you get him started on Yammies? Quote
DatterBoy Posted September 11, 2004 Author Posted September 11, 2004 Completely aware. And like most of the poeple here, he seems to prefer jet. Problem was that i started him on Yammies when in reality, you should probably work towards one... :Dat Quote
Macross_Fanboy Posted September 11, 2004 Posted September 11, 2004 Completely aware. And like most of the poeple here, he seems to prefer jet. Problem was that i started him on Yammies when in reality, you should probably work towards one...:Dat If he can tranform it properly on his own, he's a pretty smart kid with good motor skills at age 2. Quote
eriku Posted September 11, 2004 Posted September 11, 2004 Yeah, the good old Chunky Monkey will hold it's own for eternity. I had a 1J a while back, but that was my only experience with a CM. Yesterday I got a Super 1S reissue and I don't know if it's the bright whiteness or the fastpacks or what, but it instantly replaced the 1/48 as my second favorite valk toy. First will always be my 1S Joke Machine. I think it would be interesting if Bandai made a few slight alterations to the Chunky Monkey, like new heads, articulated wrists, rotating thighs, a collapsable gunpod and the ability to lock the legs in place in fighter mode. It could all be done easily and it would only improve the greatness of the toy. Of course it would never happen since there isn't much of a market left for their Chunky little Monkeys... Quote
ewilen Posted September 11, 2004 Posted September 11, 2004 The Bandai reissue and original 1/55 CM's have the same metal content as far as I know. But there were also 1/100 Takatoku and Bandai valks, and some very high quality bootlegs of them. While the originals apparently only had metal chestplates, I think some of the bootlegs had metal feet and possibly other metal parts. So maybe you're remembering one of them. Quote
r32 Posted September 12, 2004 Posted September 12, 2004 1. It's not Metal. is there a reason why i thouht it would be? I seem to recall a youth where I had an original taka or bandai and it was metal... If that was the case, why are the reissues not metal. Also, I got this for my son's first birthday as Yamato's are too expensive for a 2 year old and I understand the bandai are much more sturdy.2. Solid tranformation. They may not look as fancy and clean as the Yamato, but when you tranform em, they stay where they are, everything locks. That's the best. 3. Limited poseability. but what did you expect? toys back in those days weren't too concerned about points of articulation. GIJOE was the best there was at the time for posing. 4. Printed details. Really nice. I love how the details are printed on the valk instead of all relying on the sticker sheet. Huge plus. With or witout the sticker sheet applied, it looks pretty darned good. 5. Spring loaded landing gear. Again, was this always the way it was or something they added for the re-issue. I don't recall any sprin loaded action back in the day. 6. 1/55 is pretty huge. Same as Jetfire, of course, only, back in the day (cuz I have this memory of the old valks I had a long long time ago) didn't seem to be this big. Was there a smaller metal valk released a while back. perhaps those were bootlegs? 7. My son can still break this thing. I bought it for a two year old thinking - metal, indestructable, gonna have to rethik that. Anyhow, thought I might share those impressions with you all. BTW, I posted a bit back thepix of my son playing with my yamatos which I allowed him to do for a bit. He basically broke the fin of my custom repaint on the 1/60 by falling on it while playing guns, and he busted a leg off of Rohby's recast... I should have known better. Was hopin these Chunky Monkey's would be the end all of valks, but now that I have my hands on some, I give it 2 or 3 dys till something comes off it... Cheers! 1. It never was completely metal, just the inner halves of the legs, the swingbars, parts of the air intakes, landing gear, IIRC. Back in the day, a 10 year old kid (me) managed to break the nose landing gear, one of the cannons of the Vf-1J head, but everything else stood up to the beating (and I took it apart a few times as well) 2. Agreed, and it transforms in less than half the time needed for any Yamato 1/60th or 1/48th. No floppiness. 3. Poseability traded off for stiffness. 4. I like these too (on the reissues), again IIRC the Takatoku original I had, used stick on decals. 5. Yes, they always had springloaded landing gear, it always slaps hard against my fingernail when I try to open it. 6. Its bigger if you had the VF-1S Super version, but the 1/48th Yamato is naturally bigger. 7. Just buy a cheap used loose one, or better still one of the plastic bootleg variety that pervades ebay. Expensive Valks are like breasts - only dads get to plays with them. Quote
myk Posted September 12, 2004 Posted September 12, 2004 Expensive Valks are like breasts - only dads get to plays with them. LOL-That should be the case, however a trip down to any local high school will reveal that Dads aren't the only ones that are playing with Valks and Breasts.... -Hmm...Valks and Breasts, I think that's going to be the name of my Macross themed strip joint/bar....I'll open it up right behind the Valkyrie Exchange.... Quote
DatterBoy Posted September 12, 2004 Author Posted September 12, 2004 Expensive Valks are like breasts - only dads get to plays with them. HAHAHAHAHAH!!! Yeah, bought used ones for the boy, but they look as good as new! I figure, if I don't plan to keep in the box for all eternity, a NM used in box is pretty damn good. :Dat Quote
nucleartiger Posted September 13, 2004 Posted September 13, 2004 Expensive Valks are like breasts - only dads get to plays with them. Best line I've heard in awhile. Quote
Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0 Posted September 13, 2004 Posted September 13, 2004 BTW dat, that CM should last your boy till college provided he takes care of it well. I got a 2nd or 3rd hand jetfire and its still up and kicking, I only hope within the next 5 yrs bandai reissues more stuff since they say "the license is hard right now". Bandai rules and yamato may be icing on cake but bandai freaking IS cake. This whole board started on the premise of macross and the 1/55 toys and even now we still love it. Man the staying power! Quote
Valkfan Posted September 13, 2004 Posted September 13, 2004 This whole board started on the premise of macross and the 1/55 toys and even now we still love it. Man the staying power! Enough said! Long live the 1/55! Quote
EXO Posted September 13, 2004 Posted September 13, 2004 This whole board started on the premise of macross and the 1/55 toys and even now we still love it. Man the staying power! lol "staying power..." If the Chunky Monky was viagra that would mean a 20 year hard on for collectors... Quote
DatterBoy Posted September 13, 2004 Author Posted September 13, 2004 You guys said it all. Seriously... YAMATO is awesome, 48's rule, but I can't see really how you can compare the two from a collectors standpoint... I mean.. it's like comparing the VF-0 and the VF-1... one is a newer form of the other given better technology... although the ) supposedly came before the 1... Anyhow, I digress.. All I know is that I am developing the fan in my boy, and he will grow up the same as I did, first with the 1/55, and then the YAMMIE... 1/55's are truly charming toys, durably made to take punishment, and the perfect toy for KIDS... YAMMIE's are for COLLECTORS. :Dat Quote
Renato Posted September 14, 2004 Posted September 14, 2004 I don't want to tell you how to raise your child but you ought to be careful even with a 1/55. There are sharp points aplenty on that thing and the spring-loaded landing gear hurts even MY adult (open to debate) fingers sometimes. Plus the gunpod is the most powerful projectile toy I've ever seen. I used it for target practice a while back, and I swear, it blows Banprestos apart, even from a metre away! For me, it's the ultimate charm of the 1/55s, but I would not even give it to my brother, and he's 4 and a half. Certainly got to be extremely cautious with that. Quote
Valkfan Posted September 14, 2004 Posted September 14, 2004 YAMMIE's are for COLLECTORS.:Dat Only now, after 20 years do I discover that COLLECTING the Bandai Strike, Super Ostrich and Elintseeker was a waste of time. I guess I should sell mine for $1 a piece since they're not collectors grade merchandise. Quote
Dangard Ace Posted September 14, 2004 Posted September 14, 2004 YAMMIE's are for COLLECTORS.:Dat Only now, after 20 years do I discover that COLLECTING the Bandai Strike, Super Ostrich and Elintseeker was a waste of time. I guess I should sell mine for $1 a piece since they're not collectors grade merchandise. You got PM!!! J/K! Quote
robodog562000 Posted September 14, 2004 Posted September 14, 2004 I think the 1/55 will be safe enough for your son to play with as long as you don't give him the missile sprue. I'm sure the 1/55 injury rate is quite low. Quote
DatterBoy Posted September 14, 2004 Author Posted September 14, 2004 YAMMIE's are for COLLECTORS.:Dat Only now, after 20 years do I discover that COLLECTING the Bandai Strike, Super Ostrich and Elintseeker was a waste of time. I guess I should sell mine for $1 a piece since they're not collectors grade merchandise. I meant in terms actual playability... :Dat Quote
DatterBoy Posted September 14, 2004 Author Posted September 14, 2004 I don't want to tell you how to raise your child but you ought to be careful even with a 1/55. There are sharp points aplenty on that thing and the spring-loaded landing gear hurts even MY adult (open to debate) fingers sometimes.Plus the gunpod is the most powerful projectile toy I've ever seen. I used it for target practice a while back, and I swear, it blows Banprestos apart, even from a metre away! For me, it's the ultimate charm of the 1/55s, but I would not even give it to my brother, and he's 4 and a half. Certainly got to be extremely cautious with that. If it won't kill or maim him, I may just give it to him anyways. I know a lot of people are hyper protective of their kids, but I say a few knicks and marks give character... I love my boy, if I thought it would seriously injure him, I'd keep him away from it. I'm not too worried about these. Now, if it mildly injures him then I'll go for it! :dat Quote
nucleartiger Posted September 14, 2004 Posted September 14, 2004 true that man, i played with a lot of dangerous stuff as a kid and i got my battle scars as a result, but looking back at it, i sure had one hell of a good time being a crazy knucklehead. don't be too protective of your kids, they'll end up being the school wimps and be picked on for their lunch money! Quote
DatterBoy Posted September 14, 2004 Author Posted September 14, 2004 For reals. My cousin and I who both have 2 year olds get together and often say, if we let the women raise them all sheltered, they're gonna grow up to be... marshmellows. Boys do boy things, in this case... play with spring loaded rocket launchers and valkyries! But man.. if he pokes an eye out.. man.. will my face be red... :Dat Quote
Renato Posted September 15, 2004 Posted September 15, 2004 true that man, i played with a lot of dangerous stuff as a kid and i got my battle scars as a result, but looking back at it, i sure had one hell of a good time being a crazy knucklehead.don't be too protective of your kids, they'll end up being the school wimps and be picked on for their lunch money! Yeah, but thirty years down the line they'll be monopolizing the planet with their computer software *ahem -- Bill Gates -- AHEM!* Quote
nucleartiger Posted September 15, 2004 Posted September 15, 2004 true that man, i played with a lot of dangerous stuff as a kid and i got my battle scars as a result, but looking back at it, i sure had one hell of a good time being a crazy knucklehead.don't be too protective of your kids, they'll end up being the school wimps and be picked on for their lunch money! Yeah, but thirty years down the line they'll be monopolizing the planet with their computer software *ahem -- Bill Gates -- AHEM!* That's a big exception. Quote
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