1/60 Yamato VF-4G Web-Exclusive Toy

[neoexcaliber]

It's back on sale at HLJ again. What's going on?

[Mommar]

But by the internet vibe it feels very popular and in demand?

Makes me wonder of it's production numbers compared to a standard VF-1 v2?

The super-huge Macross fans, of which this page is full of, yeah we're all excited. In the world at large, the likelihood is much smaller others are as excited. We could be wrong. The VF-4 seems to be a favorite of model builders so it's possible a lot of people who want to customize this (which has an easily customizable scheme out of the box) could come out of the woodwork. I doubt it though. They're planning on low-turn out for it.

[Omegablue]

It's back on sale at HLJ again. What's going on?

Either people cancelling their orders, or HLJ getting a daily bump from Yamato?

The super-huge Macross fans, of which this page is full of, yeah we're all excited. In the world at large, the likelihood is much smaller others are as excited. We could be wrong. The VF-4 seems to be a favorite of model builders so it's possible a lot of people who want to customize this (which has an easily customizable scheme out of the box) could come out of the woodwork. I doubt it though. They're planning on low-turn out for it.

Well, here's hoping it succeeds in sales, if it hasn't already, so future reissues will be more affordable...

[Jasonc]

I will say this...I have a few friends that were Macross fans growing up, and keep semi up-to-date with Macross and other anime, and they had no idea this was even coming. To add, a couple of them didn't even know where this was shown in the shows.That said, I think this is geared more towards the die-hard fans, not the ones just wanting a couple valks to fulfill some nostalgia. I don't think we're going to see a huge turnout for these. It's also a double edge. If they sell too well at this price, then it tells Yamato that people will pay that much for toys. If not, they don't make them.

[MichaelS]

I don't know if it is me or what but this site happens to be my only source of macross so if its not here I don't know. Is there any other place to (outside japan)promote macross? And yeah I just happned on this thread to discover a VF-4 release!

[Dimis]

Personally i expect the neutral colours and the sharp fighter mode to have proven more appealing to the less hardcore fan than some of the really toyish-looking recent releases like the VF-19, and most of the Macross Frontier. I had read posts from people who normally collect only Transformers or only non-transforming aircrafts etc. say that they would order this.

[Smiley424]

"Just when I thought I was out . . .they pull me back in."

After about a 3 year hiatus, this sucker has pulled me back in. I pre-ordered with HLJ.com and have been scouring the web for Macross Frontier Renewal valks and eagerly anticipating the CF VF-171 while contemplating the Yamato VF-17S as well as possibly completely a DYRL Skull Squadron finally.

Forgive this old man and his ramblings, but that warm fuzzy feeling or excitement and anticipation for a new toy is back and kicking!

[Mommar]

Personally i expect the neutral colours and the sharp fighter mode to have proven more appealing to the less hardcore fan than some of the really toyish-looking recent releases like the VF-19, and most of the Macross Frontier. I had read posts from people who normally collect only Transformers or only non-transforming aircrafts etc. say that they would order this.

Really? Non-Macross fans who have been exposed to the VF-4 are interested you say? They're still fans of transforming vehicles like Transformers though. I wonder if purely aviation types might also be interested... though they're not the type to want to spend $300+ on something that transforms when they're only interested in fighter. We've even got Macross fans here who have made that same argument.

[MacrossJunkie]

People spend that much or more on non-transforming models too, so I could see it being possible that the VF-4 might have enough appeal to attract the "purely aviation types."

One of the things I like about Macross is that the designs of the fighter modes are such that for the most part, barring outlandish paint schemes, they could pass as real world fighters given that the inspiration for their designs tend to come from actual aircraft. So perhaps that particular quality could draw in others who are not normally into the transforming robots thing.

[UN Spacy]

I'm canceling my NY order and going with HLJ.

Their $59.99 EMS shipping is a bit too much.

[skullmilitia]

I'm a macross, Transformers and Aviation fan, with out all three, I'd never spend 300+ on a 1/60 valk.

But due to the other two loves, I had to buy.

plus the price WILL go up, and I don't want to regret not paying the 300$, when that become a steal price.

[Archer]

^LOL, with that logic man, you'll be buying pretty much the majority of 300 dollar macross releases

[Omegablue]

I'm still in two minds. Got a feeling it's going to be re-released in a diffirent colour.

[nautilus]

That's the scuttlebutt on the retail circuit here, Omega. The muttering is that Yamato would not lavish so much money, on such an iconic fighter and then give it a colour scheme like that. Perhaps it is just the whittering of aggrieved retailers who are not able to offer the VF-4, but the belief, as presented in the last issue of retail Mokei News is that we will get a general version in 2013, with the Hikaru's DYL Skull 1 colour scheme - and I'll be all over that like a bad suit.

Still, I've always been partial to VFX as well, so I'm happy I was able to secure a pre-order on this.

Edited November 16, 2012 by nautilus

[zzgundam010]

I'm canceling my NY order and going with HLJ.

Their $59.99 EMS shipping is a bit too much.

For me in not just the unreasonable shipping cost. HLJ's excellent customer service makes the choice easy for me.

[SuperHobo]

I'm canceling my NY order and going with HLJ.

Their $59.99 EMS shipping is a bit too much.

Is NY not willing to lower the EMS rate? If that's the case I'll cancel too.

[wm cheng]

How much is HLJ's EMS rate?

[skullmilitia]

How much is HLJ's EMS rate?

last time I shipped something from HLJ (mind you I'm in AZ, so it's a shorter trip)

For the Option parts VF-1S, it cost me 27$ for FedEx express.

Fedex has been cheaper for me, ebcause I have a business address, but EMS is usually within 5-10$ of FedEx.

Only with a ton of multiple items has my shipping ever been close to even 50$ for Express.

Where as Nippon for a single 1/60 EMS was 45$.

hope that helps.

I hope that the VF-4 gets pushed back slightly, there's just too much crap I want coming out!

[ErikElvis]

Fedex is always cheaper for me on the east coast. Its usually about $5 cheaper than EMS I think. HLJ has some quirks but I love getting my stuff by Fedex.

[MacrossJunkie]

I'm on the east coast as well and FedEx tends to be faster too. EMS usually takes about 4-5 days since it seems to sit at customs for a day or so. FedEx is usually 3.

[jvmacross]

Does actual production on this bird need to start any day now to meet the 12/31/2012 release date? (I think that was the release date?)...

[Chronocidal]

Same, FedEx generally takes between 3-5 days. For me though, it's not so much the speed/cost as it is the fact that FedEx has the decency to stay open slightly past 5pm for all the folks in town that work, and will actually hold the package for me when I ask them to, so I can pick it up the day it arrives.

I've lost count of how many times I've had to wait til the next day (or even week) because the post office doesn't seem to understand that I work during the day. Not to mention, they never bother to actually deliver anything even when I am there, because no one wants to bother walking to my apartment when it's so much easier to stick the note in my box to tell me to pick it up the next day.

[skullmilitia]

I wonky part is that my FedEx shipments go to Anchorage AK first, not exactly on the way to the SW U.S , but Whatever works for them

It always gets here in 3 days.

[Omegablue]

Mokei News is that we will get a general version in 2013, with the Hikaru's DYL Skull 1 colour scheme.

This makes me smile!

[Chronocidal]

I wonky part is that my FedEx shipments go to Anchorage AK first, not exactly on the way to the SW U.S , but Whatever works for them It always gets here in 3 days.

Think that has something to do with the way the shortest distance between two points isn't obvious on a map. Planes fly "great circle" routes, which appear as long arcs on projection maps.

The distance from Narita (New Tokyo International Airport) to Anchorage? It's only a little over 3400 miles.

Still doesn't explain why my VE-1 went from Anchorage to Memphis before heading to California.. but it all depends on the way FedEx's distribution routes work.

[Vi-RS]

Think that has something to do with the way the shortest distance between two points isn't obvious on a map. Planes fly "great circle" routes, which appear as long arcs on projection maps.

The distance from Narita (New Tokyo International Airport) to Anchorage? It's only a little over 3400 miles.

Still doesn't explain why my VE-1 went from Anchorage to Memphis before heading to California.. but it all depends on the way FedEx's distribution routes work.

Yup, it's how the Fedex's distribution routes work. I've been receiving express packages and envelopes from Fedex going that route from Asia. The first entry is always Anchorage before heading to Memphis and so on.

[MacrossJunkie]

When I've flown from New York to Taiwan, the route taken is always to Alaska first. It has something to do with needing to stay within a certain distance from land rather than air currents or what not.

[Smiley424]

Memphis is FedEx's primary hub, I think all international deliveries are routed their before going on their way.

In more related news, hlj.com orders are stopped while it is back availible on nippon yasan.

[Omegablue]

So there are no versions of the VF-4 that has a gunpod?

[aceoftherebellion]

To my knowledge no, it's never had a gunpod of it's own. It can optionally use the same GU-11 as the VF-1, but that's about it.

[Omegablue]

Thanks. Was getting a bit confused as I came across same custom kits that had it holding a gunpod.

[VF5SS]

So there are no versions of the VF-4 that has a gunpod?

It has a gun pod on the Digital Mission VF-X poster that has all the Valkyries but not in the game itself.

[aceoftherebellion]

And even in that image, it's just the standard GU-11 VF-1 gunpod, nothing special or unique. Considering even random zentreadi footsoldiers are seen carrying those in the show I think it's safe to say the VF-4 doesn't have a gunpod.

[CoreyD]

In the macross ps2 game the VF4 gun pod was internal. Is that a correct depiction?

[aceoftherebellion]

It used what looked like arm mounted vulcan guns in the PS2 game. Those aren't listed in the VF-4's official specs, but they do appear clearly on the lineart, so I would assume that's a more or less accurate description.