Graham's Review of Yamato 1/60 Scale YF-19

[HoveringCheesecake]

Seems like Yamato's QC division has been on vacation since before the VF-0S was released.

Either that, or there IS something to what someone said a while ago: perhaps we are getting the lemons out of Hong Kong? Yamato claims that they haven't heard anything from their Japanese customers. Hmmm.

[promethuem5]

I would be really interested in hearing how domestic release customers are liking there's.....

And I'd be willing to snap some pictures of mods I did and write up some quick explanations to add to the 19 fix thread....

[valk1j]

My YF-19 just showed up at my door today. Can't wait to transform this guy, I'm hoping it doesn't explode into a bunch of pieces.

[Wicked Ace]

Great, now I'm wondering if my slight fuselage gap is normal, or "caused by extra-difficult transformation" and other people have seamless ones. Can someone post good side views of the forward fuselage in fighter mode?

This is what the gap looked like on my new -19. Of course, I did not take pictures of it right out of the box, but this is only a slight exaggeration. If your -19 looks like this from the side, you need to either send it back or break out the small screwdriver to relieve the pressure.

[Scream Man]

transformed mine again coz i was getting worried, and its all still fine.

[Kyp Durron]

This is what the gap looked like on my new -19. Of course, I did not take pictures of it right out of the box, but this is only a slight exaggeration. If your -19 looks like this from the side, you need to either send it back or break out the small screwdriver to relieve the pressure.

Nah, mine never came close to having a gap like that. I guess that's why mine's OK.

Needless to say, since mine seems to only have the gunpod issue, I wouldn't sell mine for anything. Well....maybe for $500, lol.

-Kyp

Edited January 20, 2007 by Kyp Durron

[Ignacio Ocamica]

I don't want to sound offensive and I know there's members that broke their YF-19's but I think these last two days we've been exaggerating a bit.

For the ones that fear to transform it, it's not a fragile toy, it doesn't desintegrate in your hands. Try battroid mode it's pure mecha porn (like fighter mode).

I think we are drowning in a glass of water. Two more pages and we'll probably have members with "spontaneous combustion YF-19's"

[Chowser]

ok, will try transforming everything later, but I had a quick question.

Got my YF-19 the other day, and I finally got to open it today, haven't had time to transform it yet, but will get to it later.

I was lining up some of my 1/60s:

VF-0S, VF-1J, YF-19, Q-Rau

and was wondering if anyone knew the scale of the old Matchbox Officer Pod?

I'll dig out a 3 3/4" action figure and see if it's similar in size to the Miria figure in the Q-Rau.

Edited January 21, 2007 by Chowser

[Wicked Ace]

I don't want to sound offensive and I know there's members that broke their YF-19's but I think these last two days we've been exaggerating a bit.

Who, specifically has been "exaggerating a bit"?

Edited January 21, 2007 by Wicked Ace

[jenius]

I think the ol' MB Battlepod is between 1/60 and 1/65 scale.

[Dobber]

Thankfully my YF-19 is in pretty good shape! Not counting the gunpod issue. I did have a real hard time moving the nose part that slides back though. After a few transformations and reading this thread I decided to take a good look at those infamous tabs. Mine aren't too long but I trimmed them down a bit anyway.....BUT....the grey peice that they plug into...the part with the screw in it.....both of them have stress marks and one is cracked from the screw all the way to the bottom!!!!Just like Wicked Aces Will this effect the toy in any way? Any fix suggestions? Wicked Ace, what area of the hinge peice did you sand down?

Chris

Edited January 21, 2007 by Dobber

[promethuem5]

Dobber, to fix the torso transformation, you need to sand down the tan tabs facing the grey bits at some kind of angle or curve, and the angled edge of the grey bits with the square indents needs to be filed down significantly at that same angle with a bit more curvature added to the edges...

[eugimon]

Who, specifically has been "exaggerating a bit"? You posted up, now spell it out for all of us.

I'd like to know as well...

are the issues QC issues?

Are they issues where people are forcing parts and causing the cracks? <-- back pack hinge on 1/48.

Or is it people mistransforming and then blaming yamato? <-- claims of the VF-0 gunpod touching the ground in fighter mode when it was actually people not storing the arms correctly.

As for me, I haven't gotten the stress marks on the sides of fuselage that some people have posted. I can transform the fuselage just fine and haven't done surgery. My canards snap into place just fine (yes, the wiggle a little bit but they're hardly floppy)

[Wicked Ace]

I'd like to know as well...

are the issues QC issues?

Are they issues where people are forcing parts and causing the cracks? <-- back pack hinge on 1/48.

Or is it people mistransforming and then blaming yamato? <-- claims of the VF-0 gunpod touching the ground in fighter mode when it was actually people not storing the arms correctly.

As for me, I haven't gotten the stress marks on the sides of fuselage that some people have posted. I can transform the fuselage just fine and haven't done surgery. My canards snap into place just fine (yes, the wiggle a little bit but they're hardly floppy)

It seems some -19s are better than others. I can only speak for myself when it comes to pilot error in transformation -- it was my second -19 that had the problem, right out of the box. Before I got my first -19, I watched Graham's transformation guide several times and managed to transform my first -19 about a dozen times, with no difficulty and certainly no breakage. So, in my case, the toy, not the operator is the problem.

BTW, you VF-0 guys and your shoulders are exaggerating a bit aren't you?

[promethuem5]

I know you're kidding WA, but the Vf-0 shoulders seem to be a much more consistent and debilitating Out Of Box problem than any YF-19 issue... quite literally ALL of the 19s problems are very very easily fixable with a minimum of work... you can fix every problem on the 19 with a small phillips head screwdriver, a small file, and clear nail polish. As I'vre already said, and every new 19 owner should read, to fix the fuselage clips, simply fold down the nose cone, unscrew the two grey blocks of the fuselage hinge, and file down both the tan tabs and the grey blocks. To fix the landing gear, either unassemble the legs and landing gear to file the slot, or simply reach in tehre with a knife or file and carve out the slot. To fix the floppy shoulder flap, simply dab a blob of clear nail polish in both sides of the rail closest to the outside of the shoulder. The gunpod fix can be done a few ways, but I'm still waiting to see what David H comes back with after some careful research to decide what is best...

[Wicked Ace]

I know you're kidding WA, but the Vf-0 shoulders seem to be a much more consistent and debilitating Out Of Box problem than any YF-19 issue... quite literally ALL of the 19s problems are very very easily fixable with a minimum of work... you can fix every problem on the 19 with a small phillips head screwdriver, a small file, and clear nail polish.

I disagree that most would find the broken fuselage issue "easily" fixable, and I think most would consider the problem to be a tad bit debilitating. As far as the other -19 gripes, I agree they're not really a big issue.

To be clear, I was most certainly kidding about the VF-0 shoulder reports being exaggerations. I have the beginnings of a stress crack on one of my VF-0S's bicep/shoulder part.

[David Hingtgen]

prometheum5---as I said earlier--I *tried* to sand down the tabs. I had read about them, and planned to sand them down first thing, before even transforming it once. But I couldn't, as it was so tight I couldn't open it up at all to sand down the tabs! And as I said---unscrewing the grey pieces wasn't enough, nor was removing a grey piece---it still wouldn't budge! I couldn't access the tabs to sand them down until it literally exploded into pieces and the remaining grey piece broke itself out of the fuselage.

So what would you recommend I do in that situation? You can't sand down the tabs at all when the fuselage is still in fighter mode, locked tight.

Sanding the tabs down only makes it easier for subsequent times when you can at least somehow transform it in the first place---if it absolutely refuses to do so without breaking (like mine and Wicked Ace's)----it's not going to work as they're not going to be accessible to sand.

[jenius]

I like toys that don't require modification.

[eugimon]

I like toys that don't require modification.

Maybe yamato should sell their valks as "kits?"

[promethuem5]

DH, I trust you, but I don't see how you couldn't have gotten to the necessary parts to fix them without forcing the toy and breaking it... all I had to do was fold down the nosecone and unscrew the two grey hinge blocks while the fuselage was still in fighter mode, and the whole area literally fell into my hands neatly... fuselage, csrews, grey blocks, and bottom half of the toy.

And I'm not a huge fan of toys that require modification out of the box because we the buyers simply should not have to do any mods to a finished toy to simply make it work, but the YF-19 is such a marvel of engineering and the fix seemed so simple (at least to me) that I'm willing to not hold it against it.

Edited January 22, 2007 by promethuem5

[Wicked Ace]

And I'm not a huge fan of toys that require modification out of the box because we the buyers simply should not have to do any mods to a finished toy to simply make it work, but the YF-19 is such a marvel of engineering and the fix seemed so simple (at least to me) that I'm willing to not hold it against it.

I realize my posts (and maybe one other MW member's) may come off as a rant or -19 bashing, but my observations are posted to caution current and prospective YF-19 buyers; this is stuff I'd want to know before choosing to purchase. Keep in mind, I have not (and will not) tried to return my broken -19 to the seller, which I'm sure would take care of me -- that says something about how I feel about this thing.

[promethuem5]

I agree with you there WA, knowing that the toy requires a touch of work before you get to know it is really helpful when buying, but what alot of people (not you) seem to be missing in their 'Yamato suck, it's all over' rants is that once that little bit of work is done, the toy is fricken amazing and blows anything else Yamato has releaed out of the water engineering-wise if nothing else.

[Ignacio Ocamica]

BTW, you VF-0 guys and your shoulders are exaggerating a bit aren't you?

You are totally right about the VF-0A/S shoulders!!! I was talking about the YF-19, and I said "we" meaning all of us

A few pages back the YF-19 was the best toy, and now people are afraid to transform it. That's why I said we are exaggerating. People should try to transform and not panic.

Yamato designed a transformation process that relies on brute force and I think that in some cases we are applying to much of it

The YF-19 is a great toy, both of mine survived many transformations this last three weeks.

I know I was a bit sarcastic in my previous post, but I wanted to encourage people to transform their YF-19

[Wicked Ace]

A few pages back the YF-19 was the best toy, and now people are afraid to transform it. That's why I said we are exaggerating. People should try to transform and not panic.

Yamato designed a transformation process that relies on brute force and I think that in some cases we are applying to much of it

The YF-19 is a great toy, both of mine survived many transformations this last three weeks.

I know I was a bit sarcastic in my previous post, but I wanted to encourage people to transform their YF-19

It may just be me misunderstanding, but it seems you disagree with the cautions/warnings that have been posted in this thread. You state, "People shoudl try to transform and not panic." Let's see, "brute force" may have been a pretty reasonable explanation early on, but after Graham's review, Yamato's website warning/instruction, not to mention numerous posts on the subject, can you really sit back and blame the ham-fistedness of the members who have had these things break apart, right out of the box? I hope it is just your wording, because your reply seems dismissive.

Edited January 22, 2007 by Wicked Ace

[David Hingtgen]

DH, I trust you, but I don't see how you couldn't have gotten to the necessary parts to fix them without forcing the toy and breaking it... all I had to do was fold down the nosecone and unscrew the two grey hinge blocks while the fuselage was still in fighter mode, and the whole area literally fell into my hands neatly... fuselage, csrews, grey blocks, and bottom half of the toy.

Then your YF-19 is very different than mine. I folded down the nosecone, unscrewed the grey hinge blocks---and it held together with more force than I could apply. I couldn't pry it apart with a screwdriver. (I tried). Even with one grey hinge eventually removed--it was still so tightly held together by the one remaining block it still wouldn't budge. Also, my grey hinge blocks were glued in place with a very strong glue. When the forward fuselage finally "exploded" apart---one grey hinge was still there, in place, holding down the neck's "hinge" by one end. The other end was flung across the room, but the grey hinge wouldn't give up its death grip on the other. But at least the tabs were exposed by then.

That's what I'm saying--even removing every screw and piece possible in the forward fuselage, it still held itself together so tightly, that I could not perform the "sand down the tabs" mod, as they were still locked into the grey hinge blocks.

If mine just "fell into pieces" when removing the screws, I wouldn't have had any problems.

::thinking:: While I didn't notice any, I wonder if my tabs were glued in place accidently? Because my grey hinge was glued in place, when other people's don't seem to be.

[Ignacio Ocamica]

It may just be me misunderstanding, but it seems you disagree with the cautions/warnings that have been posted in this thread. You state, "People shoudl try to transform and not panic." Let's see, "brute force" may have been a pretty reasonable explanation early on, but after Graham's review, Yamato's website warning/instruction, not to mention numerous posts on the subject, can you really sit back and blame the ham-fistedness of the members who have had these things break apart, right out of the box? I hope it is just your wording, because your reply seems dismissive.

Yeah maybe my wording was wrong I agree 100% with the warnings.

I blame the brute force Yamato "made us use" because of the design. How much force is required? We don't really know.

Again I want all members to enjoy their YF-19's and not leave them in fighter mode because they fear to break it

[Wicked Ace]

I wonder if my tabs were glued in place accidently? Because my grey hinge was glued in place, when other people's don't seem to be.

I could see evidence of glue on mine as well, but the gray piece that did not break on mine dropped right out once the screw was removed.

[promethuem5]

DH, I think there was a tad bit of glue on at least one of the grey blocks on mine that basically just evaporated as I pulled the hinge apart after unscrewing... that is a pretty big problem that yours were firmly cemented in there... I wonder if with some careful X-acto work they couldn't have been removed safely, but I guess we'll never know... odd tho...

[GobotFool]

I think everyone has it, including me. Not sure what its for though. It looks like its protecting the 4 black circles (verniers?) since its painted with glossy black color.

which is ironic considering it actually pulled some of the paint off when I took it off.

[Ignacio Ocamica]

which is ironic considering it actually pulled some of the paint off when I took it off.

Ouch, sorry to hear this happened to you

[promethuem5]

Hmmm....that stinks... it came off mine fine, that muust just be a really bad luck thing. It really doesn't make sense to apply tape to a painted surface like that anyways tho...

[GobotFool]

Ouch, sorry to hear this happened to you

Not a big deal. Though I have some questions for people out there. Does everyone seem to have the problem that the shoulders won't sit flush when in fighter? It seems both of my landing gears don't swing out compleatly. Is this common or have I gotten a serious lemon. Also has anyone had their joints gummed up with glue? I'm tempted to return this one and get a replacement, but I want to make sure I'm not going to go through with this and pretty much get a toy with all the same flaws back.

To GRAHAM: Has yamato been made aware of the gunpod problem? Will they fix it in future releases?

Edited January 22, 2007 by GobotFool

[recon]

Not a big deal. Though I have some questions for people out there. Does everyone seem to have the problem that the shoulders won't sit flush when in fighter? It seems both of my landing gears don't swing out compleatly. Is this common or have I gotten a serious lemon. Also has anyone had their joints gummed up with glue? I'm tempted to return this one and get a replacement, but I want to make sure I'm not going to go through with this and pretty much get a toy with all the same flaws back.

To GRAHAM: Has yamato been made aware of the gunpod problem? Will they fix it in future releases?

Gobotfool/WolfX: What is this sticker thingy that is being pasted on circles of the verniers? do please provide some pics as i wish to avoid this issue when i get my YF-19. Tks

Just a thought, seems that many of the breakages lies in the plastic and maybe the size of screws used for VF-0A/S and YF-19, maybe smaller screws and tougher plastics would sort of rectify the problem. Do find that the screws used are a tad bit large, leaving little for the plastic surrounding it during transformation.

[GobotFool]

Gobotfool/WolfX: What is this sticker thingy that is being pasted on circles of the verniers? do please provide some pics as i wish to avoid this issue when i get my YF-19. Tks

Just a thought, seems that many of the breakages lies in the plastic and maybe the size of screws used for VF-0A/S and YF-19, maybe smaller screws and tougher plastics would sort of rectify the problem. Do find that the screws used are a tad bit large, leaving little for the plastic surrounding it during transformation.

Right behind the head there are 4 vernier/circles in a square pattern. shipped these have tape over them, and I lost some paint removing it.

[Beware of Blast]

Hmmm....that stinks... it came off mine fine, that muust just be a really bad luck thing. It really doesn't make sense to apply tape to a painted surface like that anyways tho...

Oh but it does! And on top of protecting an already protected area from scratches, that other companies usually cover with a clear plastic baggie (with is enough), Yamato decides to use tape! And not just ANY tape... It has to be 3M Magic tape with frosted texture! All they need to do next is add the cost to the Macross fans and call it... forward thinking!