1/60 VF-1J 30th Anniversary

[Loop]

I like the paint scheme.

just not a fan of colored cockpit windows. which is why i was never compelled to get the new frontier birds

My copy should be here on Friday, cant wait! Thanks for the pics david, this gives me more perspective on the size of the box. I thought the thing was super huge when seeing those pics on twitter, but most Japanese guys are not that big to begin with. Not saying there are not tall Japanese people though as I know first hand from some of the relatives I have.

Even with the colored cockpits the V2 Frontier valks are light years ahead of the version 1's.

[Valkyrie addict]

I should get mine be on thursday or friday, thanks for the pic.

[jenius]

I got mine today but I'm going to hold off messing with it until I've put the new DX VF-27 through its paces.

[Mommar]

Shipping has been slow on mine. I won't see it until next week most likely.

[Graham]

Got mine yesterday, no time to open the box yet. Probably wait until the weekend.

Graham

[Gakken85]

Keeping mine in storage until some more stuff shows up at HLJ to save on shipping. No rush on this one.

[zzgundam010]

Is the paint scheme the only difference between and the Yamato v2?

[Loop]

Yeah, plus it has a stand, water slide decals and option parts.

[Jasonc]

Mine will be here tomorrow. While I'm not big on the colored canopy, it definitely has appeal as a great engineered toy, and a monument release. 30 years going strong is something. Also not big on the clear acrylic like stand, but I have the launch arm stand as well to replace it.

[Valkyrie addict]

I got mine!! will see if I can post pics later tonight or tomorrow.

Edited September 5, 2013 by Valkyrie addict

[Duymon]

Weirdly, I paid for SAL shipping but NY gave me EMS anyways

The 30th anni valk has so mach plastic wrap on it to prevent scratching I'm afraid to take it off and display it

However, beautiful box

[Lupin The Third]

Curious to see how these turn out in peoples' collections given the rather unorthodox color scheme.

[skullmilitia]

Why no pics? Share the love boys!

[Ignacio Ocamica]

It's been out for a week now and nobody is posting pics. I wonder why?

[Duymon]

It's been out for a week now and nobody is posting pics. I wonder why?

We're all happy with the box and leaving the super scratch-prone sucker (judging by all the plastic wrap on it) in the box cuz the box looks better

[Golden Arms]

The Toy came out really well. I've been considering picking up a second one. The color scheme looks really cool.

[Valkyrie addict]

I wanna post pics but I've been busy all weekend with little time for pictures

Only pictures I've taken is when it arrived in the HLJ box.

but the boxart is very nice and, I am too, scared to even transform it. Just taken it out and put it in the stupidly silly east stand that actually does a very good job at displaying such a unique scheme in a unique way.

[Loop]

I got stiffed by Fed-Ex . It made it up here, but they failed to deliver it by the target date. Now they updated the delivery info to N/A. It had better show up on monday lol.

Edited September 8, 2013 by Loop

[Guest davidwhangchoi]

anyone going to put the decals on? i'm too scared....

[hal9000]

Ok I'm a little confused. HLJ states that the "stand" is not included. But the unboxing pictures above show it included. I'm a little confused? Is it a exclusive item form some retailers? I am talking about the one piece clear stand.

[Duymon]

It's included and it's great.

[Valkyrie addict]

Finally got time to take pictures. I gotta say, the scheme is rather unique and quite the eye catcher in person, so far I'm liking it more than expected.

Mini review:

- Tenjin boxart sleeve just plain gorgeous, once you take it out it reveals a minimalistic simple box design with the flap to lift and show the inner contents.

- Valk comes covered in plastic to protect the tampo scheme similar to how the Yamato weathered valks came.

- New manual design, this time with a vertical flip book style with much needed improved transformation instructions.

- Both regular and waterslide decals.

- Comes with the stand that as dumb as it looks it serves its purpose very well and takes little space to display, it also comes with a smaller stand to add an included decal as a sorta plaque denoting the 30 anniversario. I wouldn't mind if it were possible to get this stands apart to display the old Yammies.

- Option parts are black and blend very well with the scheme.

- The tampo print is simply amazing, my hats off to Arcadia for taking Tenjin's design to real life so flawlessly.

- You will also notice that in all three modes, the tricolor (Roy, Hikaru, Max) scheme flows continuously and the big Macross kite is somewhat visible.

- There are some tampo that just went above and beyond, the tricolor scheme in the knee, the small tips of the kite in the piece right behind the canopy, also on the canopy shield and on the freaking hinge that holds and moves the backpack.

- I noticed some small changes in the finish to the old Yammies, the pilot seat is not tan anymore, is a more militaristic olive drab color, don't know if this is a one off or will this be a standard now for all VF-1's. The leg swing bar and part of the chest breast plate, in the old yammies this part were metal and had a gloss coat paint, it appears this part are plastic now (not sure) but they are not gloss coated anymore and the color matches exactly with the rest of the colored areas.

In the end, this Valk is beautiful in its uniqueness, I'm happy I got two of this and I for one feel is a successful way for Arcadia to start/continue the new era of Macross toys.

Thank you Arcadia.

On to the pictures.

Edited September 9, 2013 by Valkyrie addict

[SuperSenpai]

Thanks for the pics and review. I didn't order this valk and don't intend to, since I don't particularly care for the paint scheme, and I'll reserve judgment until it's confirmed from other purchasers, but... I'm disappointed to hear that the leg swing bar is plastic. That's a piece that needs to be made from metal, in my opinion. The way that component is designed, and the manner it typically gets handled when transforming the toy -- making it out of plastic seems like a recipe for disaster. If Arcadia is going forward with a plastic swing bar on all their VF-1 reissues, I think this will upset quite a few people considering they are asking us to shell out more money.

[Valkyrie addict]

I'm not really sure if it's plastic or a different kind of metal, it feel as strong as always but I'm no expert on this so if someone more knowledgeable could clear this.

I'm not saying I'm 100% sure if not metal anymore, so don't go press the panic button by something I'm not entirely sure, it looks different but feels strong as always.

I've also pointed out a few times how the tampo finish is much better and crisp compared to the old Yammies, I took some pics for comparison, notice how the tampo bleed on the Yammies compared to how crisp they are on the Arcadia 30th.

ALSO....

Did someone say FAST PACKS???

I meant "LSD" not LCD, hehe

Edited September 9, 2013 by Valkyrie addict

[SuperSenpai]

I'm not really sure if it's plastic or a different kind of metal, it feel as strong as always but I'm no expert on this so if someone more knowledgeable could clear this.

I'm not saying I'm 100% sure if not metal anymore, so don't go press the panic button by something I'm not entirely sure, it looks different but feels strong as always.

I've also pointed out a few times how the tampo finish is much better and crisp compared to the old Yammies, I took some pics for comparison, notice how the tampo bleed on the Yammies compared to how crisp they are on the Arcadia 30th.

ALSO....

Did someone say FAST PACKS???

Understood, and you'll note in my post I said that I would reserve judgment until it was confirmed from others who have purchased it. I was just saying that if it's true that they switched to a plastic part, that would be a disappointing move to me. Furthermore, even if it is just as strong, it seems odd to use a cheaper material for that part when you are charging more for the product. Adding a stand and waterslides is a fine move to give the customer the perception that the added cost will come with at least some benefit, but then switching out to cheaper materials seems like a step back.

Like I said, I'll hold judgment until more people chime in, but something like that just makes me raise an eyebrow.

[Valkyrie addict]

I only pointed it because everyone here is paranoid and I don't want to start a panic. Anyway, I went and checked the valk again, like I said, the look different, but feel as strong as metal, solid and do not bend, maybe they used a powdered coat process for a better finish instead of the gloss coat they used before, maybe it's a different metal alloy that allowed it to be dyed instead of painted.

I gonna go on a limb and say now that the part is not plastic and most likely metal, what I'm not sure now is how they painted. Everything about this valk feels better quality and finish, so in my opinion, I don't feel they've gone cheaper on anything.

But I would like other people to see/feel the part and confirm it is still metal.

Edited September 9, 2013 by Valkyrie addict

[Guest davidwhangchoi]

I only pointed it because everyone here is paranoid and I don't want to start a panic. Anyway, I went and checked the valk again, like I said, the look different, but feel as strong as metal, solid and do not bend, maybe they used a powdered coat process for a better finish instead of the gloss coat they used before, maybe it's a different metal alloy that allowed it to be dyed instead of painted.

I gonna go on a limb and say now that the part is not plastic and most likely metal, what I'm not sure now is how they painted. Everything about this valk feels better quality and finish, so in my opinion, I don't feel they've gone cheaper on anything.

But I would like other people to see/feel the part and confirm it is still metal.

i think you should take a bite into it. or lick it... i think if it's cold you'll know for sure it's metal.

Edited September 9, 2013 by davidwhangchoi

[Valkyrie addict]

LOL, I would but I don't want to chip it.

[Astro_BS-AS]

LOL, I would but I don't want to chip it.

Great mini-review ! And the pics are just amazing.

And youre little "sitcom" too

Now, on the plastic-metal part. Have you tried sticking a magnet to it?

Try it on the old Valk first, to check

[ErikElvis]

I like fighter with the super packs. I also really like the half gerwalk. Im happy I bought this but not sure I want 2.

[Guest davidwhangchoi]

LOL, I would but I don't want to chip it.

yeah i have one too, so you know i'm just messing around, my advice is if you don't want panic(s), to only post when you confirm it to be true. One sure test would be to out it in the refrigerator for a few minutes as metal is a good conductor of heat cold. The only reason i haven't, is because i never opened actual plastic trays but kept it in bay when took photos of my box. there is so much plastic covering the paint apps i left it alone as i have no place to display my valks.

Edited September 9, 2013 by davidwhangchoi

[Reïvaj]

One may like the colour scheme or not, but it must be admitted that the tampo print is amazing.

[Valkyrie addict]

I tried with a magnet on the Yammies and on the Arcadia, the pieces are a non-magnetic alloy. I decided to put it on the snack fridge I keep nearby so I wouldn't forget and leave it all day in there, the piece did get cold and frosted more than the plastic. So it's pretty safe to say it's metal, what kind of metal? hard to tell without damaging the paint.

So no need to panic.

Now I have a sweaty condensated valk...

Edited September 9, 2013 by Valkyrie addict

[Guest davidwhangchoi]

i'm in awe... down to you...

major props valk addict!

[Astro_BS-AS]

i'm in awe... down to you...

major props valk addict!

Me too....

And the Valk there in the fridge.... May I say YAMMIE????

Oh... never mind...

*putting his head back in the shame-box...