Yamato 1/60 v2, what can be done?

[Loute]

Hi all,

First I'd like to apologize if I'm not posting in the right section since it's my very first post on this forum.

I've searched for that subject but coudn't find anything releavant to my problem.

My question is "Where can I get spare parts for those Magnificient-yet-(often)-crapy-jointed Yamato's Valks V2?"

I came here on a friend's recommandation who said that you might be able to help me with the cracking shoulders (left & right) and knaped canopy of a Super Ostrich (YMT00126). It's quite hard to find precise and releavant information on the Internet for that problem.

Actually I was really looking forward a nice answer from parts@hlj.com since I have an account there but they informed me that this service was suspended because of the earthquake and they didn't know when they where going to run it back on. I also gave a try at over-drive-inc.com since they have a form specially made for that but I've never receive any answer.

Could you guys give me a hint on what to do? Have these spare parts for sale or an address to contact to get them? Am I doomed to keep it this way?

Thanks for the useful advices you could give me (and sorry for my english, I haven't pratice for centuries, maybe even more ;-) )

[Archer]

Sorry I can't be of much more help to you, but I wouldn't expect much back from over drive. I believe that they have really moved away from managing their web services and what not, and rarely respond anymore. Beyond that, a lot of members here on the forums recieved extra arms for their broken VF-1's a while back, so you could ask around and see if anyone was willing to sell them to you or what not.

[MacrossJunkie]

Yeah, forget Overdrive. I bought my Ostrich from them and saw that the shoulders had cracks so I emailed them and they never replied. They replied to inquiries before the purchase, but after they had my money, they would not respond. I had stopped buying anything from them after that.

[Jasonc]

There used to be a thread about this issue, and there were arms available, but that was sometime ago. I can't locate the thread now, but hopefully you're able to get a set, or if you just have one cracked piece, at least one.

[kanedaestes]

I believe Graham, the site's co-owner and Yamato's Sith Lord of secrecy, has a way to get more

Edited November 8, 2011 by kanedaestes

[ff95gj]

IF I live in Japan, does Yamato provide part replacements?

I am thinking about a open friend (that means not close) in Japan...

[MacrossJunkie]

I could still use a set of replacement shoulders for my VT-1 as well.

[Loute]

Thank you for those answers, though they confort me in the feeling that I have very little hope to find replacement parts for the broken pieces.

I even thought about buying a very low priced (because they're on sale) VF-xx Valk @hlj and dismantle it to repair my VT-1 but I can't resign myself to do that since it would break my heart to destroy a brand new Valkyrie.

I still have several options left:

- try to get parts from an other official retailer (so that his e-mails won't be ignored by Yamato)

- find these parts on the forum (my best option so far ;-) )

- Ask a guy that would know a lot about molding (thinking of that I may know the adequate person)

- "vandalize" a brand new mecha (arghhhh!!!)

- wait for hlj's service to run back on

-???

- et voilà.

On a more general thought, I feel a bit disapointed about Yamato, it would have been so easier if they had a customer service with a special section for these Macross toys, I don't mind paying the shipping nor even paying the plastic bits if my good if off waranty.

I continue my investigations and I'll let you know how it turns out.

Again, thank you for all your answers ;-)

[m0n5t3r]

here's the old "shoulder hinge replacement" thread - http://www.macrosswo...ndpost&p=929255

sorry to hear about your VT-1, but you're a couple of months late coming here to look for replacements. I don't think contacting Graham at this point will do any good since he already gave away all the replacement hinges he had...

if you know somebody living in Japan, you can ask them to try contacting Yamato - http://eng.yamato-to...pany/index.html ...i think as long as you're a Japan resident, they'll send you the replacement part/s you need.

This is the Yamato Customer Service number:

03-3526-6080

Edited November 8, 2011 by m0n5t3r

[Loute]

here's the old "shoulder hinge replacement" thread - http://www.macrosswo...ndpost&p=929255

sorry to hear about your VT-1, but you're a couple of months late coming here to look for replacements. I don't think contacting Graham at this point will do any good since he already gave away all the replacement hinges he had...

if you know somebody living in Japan, you can ask them to try contacting Yamato - http://eng.yamato-to...pany/index.html ...i think as long as you're a Japan resident, they'll send you the replacement part/s you need.

This is the Yamato Customer Service number:

03-3526-6080

Oh thanks, that was the topic I was looking for but you're right, Graham's spare parts seem to be long gone, as always I'm too late. Unfortunately I'no Japanese resident and don't even know anyone there, I'll still give it a try by e-mail with them (I'll try the "cute cat look").

There's still hope

[Golden Arms]

_{For the shoiulders, you could purchase one of the unassembled vf-1S or vf-1J. They would be your cheapest option, if you have to purchase one new.}

[boyarque]

_{For the shoiulders, you could purchase one of the unassembled vf-1S or vf-1J. They would be your cheapest option, if you have to purchase one new.}

Agree with this suggestion....plus you'll get some extra parts too.

[Jasonc]

Do you need just one, or two of the hinges? Maybe if someone has extras, and only used one, maybe they can spare one for you?

[antilles]

On a related topic, I've seen mention of loosening the problematic metal bars in the shoulders as being a suitable prophylactic measure of avoiding the shoulder problems in the first place. I've a recently bought Vf-1A Hikaru and was considering it - does anyone have any experience with this?

[Reïvaj]

Yeah, in my experience the Yamato 1/60 v.2 doesn't have metal bars in the shoulders.

Edited December 3, 2011 by Reïvaj

[David Hingtgen]

On a related topic, I've seen mention of loosening the problematic metal bars in the shoulders as being a suitable prophylactic measure of avoiding the shoulder problems in the first place. I've a recently bought Vf-1A Hikaru and was considering it - does anyone have any experience with this?

It's not really the issue. Loosening the screws to make it easier to get the shoulders to swing over the "bumps" was thought to help, but it doesn't. It certainly makes it easier to transform and could help prevent other related long-term issues, but the real issue is the pins are simply too big for the holes. (even Yamato's fixed shoulders actually fix the symptom, not the cause)

I currently have my Roy's shoulder-screws super-loose. (maybe too loose--I honestly don't remember how they were from the factory---are they supposed to be "floppy but within a constrained area" in battroid mode?---they can freely flop around, but they can only move like 1 or 2 mm due to where they are)

[eugimon]

Yeah, in my experience the Yamato 1/60 v.2 doesn't have metal bars in the shoulders.

maybe he's talking about the hinge pins.

Some people suggest that if you have one of the first releases with the scalloped knurled hinge pins, that the knurling itself is too wide and it's causing the hinge to fail. So, to remedy that, you carefully tap out the pin, file down the knurling and re-assemble the hinge.

But... ff the idea that the knurling itself is causing the cracks is 100% true, then nearly every shoulder would have failed. I have 6 valks that have the original knurled pins and only 1 has had the shoulder hinge fail and that was only in one shoulder, not both. So I'm not convinced that the knurling itself is the culprit. My personal opinion is that the cracks were caused during the manufacturing... in part because the knurling is too big but also because the hinges were being assembled incorrectly, either poor alignment, too much force or some other reason.

Edited December 3, 2011 by eugimon

[antilles]

It's not really the issue. Loosening the screws to make it easier to get the shoulders to swing over the "bumps" was thought to help, but it doesn't. It certainly makes it easier to transform and could help prevent other related long-term issues, but the real issue is the pins are simply too big for the holes. (even Yamato's fixed shoulders actually fix the symptom, not the cause)

I currently have my Roy's shoulder-screws super-loose. (maybe too loose--I honestly don't remember how they were from the factory---are they supposed to be "floppy but within a constrained area" in battroid mode?---they can freely flop around, but they can only move like 1 or 2 mm due to where they are)

maybe he's talking about the hinge pins.

Some people suggest that if you have one of the first releases with the scalloped knurled hinge pins, that the knurling itself is too wide and it's causing the hinge to fail. So, to remedy that, you carefully tap out the pin, file down the knurling and re-assemble the hinge.

But... ff the idea that the knurling itself is causing the cracks is 100% true, then nearly every shoulder would have failed. I have 6 valks that have the original knurled pins and only 1 has had the shoulder hinge fail and that was only in one shoulder, not both. So I'm not convinced that the knurling itself is the culprit. My personal opinion is that the cracks were caused during the manufacturing... in part because the knurling is too big but also because the hinges were being assembled incorrectly, either poor alignment, too much force or some other reason.

Thanks for the replies. I'm apt to leave mine in fighter mode, but it's nice to have an idea of the propensity to suffer shoulder damage / possible causes of same.

[acruther]

I'm having the same problem with my newly purchased Yamato "Perfect Trance VF-1J Ichijyou Hikaru Type with Super Parts 1/60." I bought it through newegg.com but the merchant was Treasure Island Sports (http://tisinc99.com). Anyway, the darn thing broke on the very first transform. I was watching the transform instructions while doing it, so I tried to be careful with the shoulder, but to no avail. Dang thing cracked.

Anyway, I tried tisinc99 but they haven't returned my emails. I tried hlj.com but they said I didn't buy it from them, so...no love. Yamato won't sell them to round-eyes (OK well Americans because of the whole licensing thing). So I'm at a bit of a loss.

Fortunately I bought a couple Bandai 1/55s for my kids. I had Jetfire when I was a kid so that's how I go into all this. I never watched Robotech until the last month or so. Actually Robotech kind-of sucks, really. Love the toys though. The Yamato is gorgeous but is a fragile POS. They should have used a lot more die cast in the shoulders. The Bandais are much more solidly built. Different types of toys really.

Anyway, if anyone has any leads on replacement hinges, I need two for sure. Otherwise I'll just be stealing my kids stuff...

[ps99042]

My Roy VF-1S shoulders just cracked though they're still attached in battroid mode. Only transformed the thing once from fighter to battroid when I opened it and have had it posed since then for a couple years. I originally bought them from Overdrive and they never responded back in the day when I emailed about my cracked Hikaru VF-1A shoulders and HLJ also rejected my request for replacements. I actually had Graham put my name on a list for replacement shoulders back in the day but never received any updates. So, any other ideas?

[Negotiator]

I'm having the same problem with my newly purchased Yamato "Perfect Trance VF-1J Ichijyou Hikaru Type with Super Parts 1/60." I bought it through newegg.com but the merchant was Treasure Island Sports (http://tisinc99.com). Anyway, the darn thing broke on the very first transform. I was watching the transform instructions while doing it, so I tried to be careful with the shoulder, but to no avail. Dang thing cracked.

Anyway, I tried tisinc99 but they haven't returned my emails. I tried hlj.com but they said I didn't buy it from them, so...no love. Yamato won't sell them to round-eyes (OK well Americans because of the whole licensing thing). So I'm at a bit of a loss.

Fortunately I bought a couple Bandai 1/55s for my kids. I had Jetfire when I was a kid so that's how I go into all this. I never watched Robotech until the last month or so. Actually Robotech kind-of sucks, really. Love the toys though. The Yamato is gorgeous but is a fragile POS. They should have used a lot more die cast in the shoulders. The Bandais are much more solidly built. Different types of toys really.

Anyway, if anyone has any leads on replacement hinges, I need two for sure. Otherwise I'll just be stealing my kids stuff...

if you live in so. cal. tisinc has a booth at frank and sons. you'll find them because they have the largest selection of valks for sale and are all overpriced.

[acruther]

if you live in so. cal. tisinc has a booth at frank and sons. you'll find them because they have the largest selection of valks for sale and are all overpriced.

Well, you know, $200 toys... I returned the figure to tisinc after multiple unreturned messages. Won't order from them again. I'm thinking of getting a 1/48 instead. I really liked the 1/60 minus the shoulders. Would love any recs in terms of what to buy, what to avoid and who to buy from.

Thanks.

[Luclin999]

I'm having the same problem with my newly purchased Yamato "Perfect Trance VF-1J Ichijyou Hikaru Type with Super Parts 1/60." I bought it through newegg.com but the merchant was Treasure Island Sports (http://tisinc99.com). Anyway, the darn thing broke on the very first transform. I was watching the transform instructions while doing it, so I tried to be careful with the shoulder, but to no avail. Dang thing cracked.

Anyway, I tried tisinc99 but they haven't returned my emails. I tried hlj.com but they said I didn't buy it from them, so...no love. Yamato won't sell them to round-eyes (OK well Americans because of the whole licensing thing). So I'm at a bit of a loss.

Fortunately I bought a couple Bandai 1/55s for my kids. I had Jetfire when I was a kid so that's how I go into all this. I never watched Robotech until the last month or so. Actually Robotech kind-of sucks, really. Love the toys though. The Yamato is gorgeous but is a fragile POS. They should have used a lot more die cast in the shoulders. The Bandais are much more solidly built. Different types of toys really.

Anyway, if anyone has any leads on replacement hinges, I need two for sure. Otherwise I'll just be stealing my kids stuff...

And that right there is one of the reasons that I stopped collecting Yamato Valks last year and went back to my first love, the Takatoku/Bandai 1/55th scale series. My first Yamato 1/48th scale figure has now cracked at the hip connector and my second 1/60th ended up with the dreaded shoulder issues.

I just can't deal with the idea that I am paying $100-200 for a brand new figure that has those kind of QC issues and overall just feels too fragile. Frankly, the Yamato valks feel more like pre-assembled model kits to me while the Takatoku/Bandai Valkyries were definitely built to be actual toys and as such were built to last.

Edited December 10, 2011 by Luclin999

[myk]

Would love any recs in terms of what to buy, what to avoid and who to buy from...

Here's a thorough looking list of which VF1's tend to offer what to potential buyers: http://anymoon.com/blog/?p=4599

Personally, I gave up on the Yamato thing a long time ago. If I'm going to gamble with hundreds of dollars I'll take it to the casinos. If I want to pick up a good looking fixer-upper-project then I'll buy a 60's muscle car. But a pretty looking chunk of plastic? PASS...

[Isamu Dyson]

Here's a thorough looking list of which VF1's tend to offer what to potential buyers: http://anymoon.com/blog/?p=4599

Personally, I gave up on the Yamato thing a long time ago. If I'm going to gamble with hundreds of dollars I'll take it to the casinos. If I want to pick up a good looking fixer-upper-project then I'll buy a 60's muscle car. But a pretty looking chunk of plastic? PASS...

-+

Didn't you pay a pretty penny for a 1/55 1S Stike chunk of plastic?

C'mon deep down in your heart I'm sure if Yamato revisted a Hikki 1S Strike with all fixes standing on one leg and giving the military salute pose - you would shell out right?

[Loute]

Hi all,

Sorry I left the thread so long I just red all your answers.

HLJ clearly told me to F.O. somewhere else, that they won't do anything to help. Fair enough, it was one option (the best I had so far) but that doesn't mean I clueless as what to do (yet they 're still my favorite vendor).

I recently bought Fimo and resin (solid transparent one) so I can mold the parts over my VF-1A and rebuild the canopy (yet tint it in light blue or light green, I don't know).

I can also wait for another sale @hlj to get parts.

I can also try those online services that prints 3D models, all I have to do is find a way to create the mesh or find an existant one for 1/60 shoulder hinges.

My principal problem is time. I lack it. And I don't wan't to sell my little growing collection because its hinges go wild ;-)

[Reïvaj]

Lucky you, somebody's kindly done it for you:

http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=36316

[Loute]

Lucky you, somebody's kindly done it for you:

http://www.macrosswo...showtopic=36316

Damn! Everything is served hot here!! :-)

Thanx for the link I missed that.

You're right: Fracking lucky me!

*jumping in the office, everybody watching me puzzled, I don't care.

[Reïvaj]

De rien !

Ce sont vraiment des bonnes nouvelles !

[Loute]

De rien !

Ce sont vraiment des bonnes nouvelles !

Ho que oui, et j'ai des amis qui sont dans la même "galère" que moi, ça va les ravir!