Arcadia 1/60 VF-19 Custom Nekki Basara Special with Sound Booster

[treatment]

Ya know?

Looking back on this thread, this Arcadia item was 34,800y back in in 2014.

Exchange-rate back in Sept/2014 was about 109y to US$1

I didn't get this back then, but weren't there some PO-"discounts" that push the pricing below 34,800y?

How much was shipping-fees back then? Probably the even more rare low rates?

Seems people here even got this item for around 26k yen around Nov/2014 due to several of HLJ's discounts and coupons and stuff.

vs

34,800y as of Dec/2023 now, with exchange-rate around 142y to US$1.

Exorbitant shipping-fees are the norm, and still being raised.

No PO-discounts anymore to push pricing below 34,800y.  Some jp-shops even add the 10% tokyo sales-taxes.

---

Just some interesting stuff to me...

 

Edited December 26, 2023 by treatment

[davidwhangchoi]

this is a good deal with the current yen to usd rate. 

easy buy for me. 

[treatment]

On 12/25/2023 at 8:29 AM, DownIsUp said:

Anyone know when AmiAmi tends to get their hands on stock for stuff like this? It's only been a couple days so I'm not stressing, but I am curious since HLJ seems really on the ball 

This japanese-fan bought it from amiami-jp:

https://twitter.com/zerostart08/status/1739616070602993788

web-translated:

 

---

latest from purchasers:

 

https://twitter.com/suzukiti/status/1739680699408593221

 

web-translated snapshot:

 

[anubis20]

Man I was buying this because I believed the canopy was not going to be yellow 😑

[no3Ljm]

On 12/25/2023 at 8:29 AM, DownIsUp said:

Anyone know when AmiAmi tends to get their hands on stock for stuff like this? It's only been a couple days so I'm not stressing, but I am curious since HLJ seems really on the ball 

In case you missed this announcement from Amiami's homepage. Customers might experience shipment delays due to a surge in orders.

[treatment]

wonder if Arcadia's now brown-boxing all VF-19Kai reissue (pre)orders...

https://twitter.com/lupsalad/status/1739958328774857065

web-translated snap:

 

[m0n5t3r]

On 12/24/2023 at 9:30 AM, treatment said:

https://twitter.com/Reiyumesaki_REI/status/1738618962651586929

 

web-translated snapshot:

No improvements? GERWALK legs and ankles look the same and the headfin still doesn't sit flush on top of the head. Best looking mode is still fighter but I agree that the gold canopy is too much.

[pengbuzz]

Has anyone tried 91% Isopropyl ("Rubbing") Alcohol to remove the yellow tint on the canopy?

[davidwhangchoi]

Got shipping notification 

 

using Hlj quick pack Yamato service

[treatment]

10 hours ago, m0n5t3r said:

No improvements? GERWALK legs and ankles look the same and the headfin still doesn't sit flush on top of the head. Best looking mode is still fighter but I agree that the gold canopy is too much.

No videos, yet, but here's another user-tweet with pics to check it:

https://twitter.com/hiyashinsu_boti/status/1740253271519047736

web-translated snap:

 

1 hour ago, davidwhangchoi said:

Got shipping notification 

 

using Hlj quick pack Yamato service

 

Thought that quickpack option was only $3 to $7 cheaper than DHL and FedEx for single items.

Was it significantly cheaper than either when you have more than a single item?

 

[davidwhangchoi]

1 hour ago, treatment said:

No videos, yet, but here's another user-tweet with pics to check it:

https://twitter.com/hiyashinsu_boti/status/1740253271519047736

web-translated snap:

 

 

Thought that quickpack option was only $3 to $7 cheaper than DHL and FedEx for single items.

Was it significantly cheaper than either when you have more than a single item?

 

no, it was just a dollar or two cheaper than fedex or DHL. i just wanted to try it since it was a new option i never tried before. it said 3-5 days so hopefully it's fast.

[MKT]

Just a PSA & reminder, especially for folks new to handling Arcadia's VF-19 / YF-19, that the Gerwalk joint doesn't pivot down as far as you would expect especially if one is used to handling Bandai's DX. The Gerwalk joint is nicely stiff and clicky, but it does not take a lot for the joint to break after the (I think) 3rd click if one is expecting the 4th.  

 

[treatment]

9 hours ago, davidwhangchoi said:

no, it was just a dollar or two cheaper than fedex or DHL. i just wanted to try it since it was a new option i never tried before. it said 3-5 days so hopefully it's fast.

oh, ok.

hopefully it is reliable and stuff as a newer option .

 

[treatment]

still no videos, yet, but new pics from "Ox"...

link with snaps:

https://twitter.com/XXXG00YSW/status/1740428863166177419

 

 

https://twitter.com/XXXG00YSW/status/1740429191269716271

 

 

[treatment]

 

https://twitter.com/colasvi2/status/1740383623285702695

 

web-translated snapshot:

[ValkAddict]

Not feeling the gold canopy .... meh 😐

[scand]

12 hours ago, MKT said:

Just a PSA & reminder, especially for folks new to handling Arcadia's VF-19 / YF-19, that the Gerwalk joint doesn't pivot down as far as you would expect especially if one is used to handling Bandai's DX. The Gerwalk joint is nicely stiff and clicky, but it does not take a lot for the joint to break after the (I think) 3rd click if one is expecting the 4th.  

 

Thanks for the warning. This will be my first round with the VF19.

[treatment]

This is a pretty shot from "Ox" with his new shiny...

 

https://twitter.com/XXXG00YSW/status/1740567807832756444

 

web-translated snapshot:

[Lolicon]

Plenty of these bad boys in stores in Japan.

Will ship mine from HLJ after I return stateside so it's not just sitting on my porch unattended for days. 

I'll keep this one in battroid or swap the canopy from my old Yamato version.

[Alex GS]

anyone here by any chance have a shot of the new box for this valk?, not for collecting reasons of course 

[MKT]

10 minutes ago, Alex GS said:

anyone here by any chance have a shot of the new box for this valk?, not for collecting reasons of course 

Here you go, it was posted one page back:

 

As with Arcadia's straight reissues, the box looks the same as previous, with this year's reissues coming with a 40th Anniversary sticker.

[Alex GS]

9 minutes ago, MKT said:

Here you go, it was posted one page back:

 

As with Arcadia's straight reissues, the box looks the same as previous, with this year's reissues coming with a 40th Anniversary sticker.

Thank you so much @MKT, my bad not looking further in this thread😅 , man I was hoping for something different in the box art of this Valk still no problem at all.  

[MKT]

11 minutes ago, Alex GS said:

Thank you so much @MKT, my bad not looking further in this thread😅 , man I was hoping for something different in the box art of this Valk still no problem at all.  

You're welcome. 

It so happens that Mandarake has split the listing for the reissue, so for anyone who wants to tell the new box from the old when purchasing on secondary markets:

2023 Reissue - comes with 'Macross 40th' sticker on the front, the last 6-digits barcode number on the back reads "821657"

 

For the 2014 original issue - obviously no sticker on the front, and the last 6-digit barcode on the back reads "820742"

[locidm]

If anyone is willing to part with the 1/60 figures of the 4 Fire Bomber members please shoot me a PM. 

[treatment]

Good deal at HLJ for this valk!

HLJ has a 5^ discount applicable to the 1/60 Fire-Valk 2023-reissue:

valk-page:

https://www.hlj.com/1-60-scale-perfect-transformation-vf-19-kai-nekki-basara-special-with-sound-booster-reissue-aca82165

 

coupon-page:

https://www.hlj.com/2024-new-year-unlimited-coupon

 

[Chronocidal]

I'm laughing right now because this reissue (with the sound booster) actually cost me less than the original release.  

[treatment]

 

https://twitter.com/nagicolith/status/1742104617566216614

web-translated snap:

 

[jenius]

Yamato sent out replacement wings on the first release when it was pointed out the navigation lights were wrong.

[Chronocidal]

I think they may have darkened the overall plastic, without darkening the paint on the shoulder blocks.  They are standing out rather starkly on almost every photo I see.

[DownIsUp]

My first time handling the Vf-19 mold, and I love it so far! I wish I was a little more careful during my first transformation tho, because I dented the tip on the back of the hip block. I've had the Yamcadia Vf-1 for a while but that thing doesn't have tolerances this precise. It's a neat change of pace

[MKT]

9 hours ago, DownIsUp said:

My first time handling the Vf-19 mold, and I love it so far! I wish I was a little more careful during my first transformation tho, because I dented the tip on the back of the hip block. I've had the Yamcadia Vf-1 for a while but that thing doesn't have tolerances this precise. It's a neat change of pace

That's what I love about 3rd / late gen Yamato & Arcadia valks. The precise feel of it when handling them. 

[treatment]

A bit too precise, this time.

The hand/fingers on this reissue is too tight that the triggger-finger will have stress mark when you attach the gunpod.

That said, here's mine with my other 2023 reissued/recolored valks...

 

 

[treatment]

web-translation is a bit iffy, but this is one of the great features in certain Yamarcadia valks...

 

https://twitter.com/Ezwea1/status/1743882660311941601

 

web-transalted snap:

 

 

 

[Chronocidal]

I do like the fact that they made it possible, but I rarely perform that particular step.  Unless I really really want to pose Basara sitting halfway out of the battroid hatch, it's easier to just leave canopy closed.

[davidwhangchoi]

mine is coming in Monday. 

good to have a yamato valk.