Hi-Metal R

[MisaForever]

8 minutes ago, mikeszekely said:

You wouldn't happen to have any Transformers to use as a size comparison?

Unfortunately I only have 1 out right now and it's much bigger than the HMRs. But honestly I'd say the HMRs are anywhere between 5-7 inches tall in battroid mode. Closer to 7 for most I think.

Edited August 10 by MisaForever

[Pontus]

$300 seemed reasonable for the premium but I've seen non premium ones going for about $225 or so.  When the HMR costs nearly $150, double is a bit of a stretch, but... well it depends on your priorities and budget.

[mikeszekely]

Just now, Pontus said:

$300 seemed reasonable for the premium but I've seen non premium ones going for about $225 or so.  When the HMR costs nearly $150, double is a bit of a stretch, but... well it depends on your priorities and budget.

I wasn't able to find any Arcadia VF-4s under $244, but I can preorder the HMR reissue for $130.  I'm rounding the Arcadia up to $250 and a pair of HMRs down to same, but close enough to double.  Admittedly, it was a very quick search, not serious and patient hunting.

[Bolt]

I like the HMR line. Would recommend to anyone wanting to build up a Macross collection quickly. It's not a scale or line I'm very serious about, but I've got 7 or 8 and my eyes on a few more for sure. 

[m0n5t3r]

26 minutes ago, mikeszekely said:

 

I'm most interested in having at least one VF-1 (probably Fokker's VF-1S)...

You might want to look into ThreeZero's Robo Dou VF-1S for preorder, due out early next year as well. It's more chunky looking compared to the Yamato/Arcadia... might be a better match to display with TFs. 

https://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/topic/49682-threezero-robotech-macross-toys/?do=getNewComment

I have the Focker 1S on preorder since I've been wanting to get a new and more modern VF-1 toy that isn't overpriced/heavily scalped like the DX Chogokin version. Plus the DX is too big for me at 1/48 since I don't really have any more display space.

Edited August 10 by m0n5t3r

[treatment]

2 hours ago, mikeszekely said:

 

Let's see... a 1/100 MG Gundam is about yay tall... and the VF-1 is shorter than Gundam, so... a little bigger than an Earthrise Seeker?  Maybe around the size of Top Gun x Transformers Maverick?

 

hmmm....

My HMR VF-4 is always in fighter-mode, but here's battroid VF-1 to C-01 comparo for you...

 

VF-4 is just so damn fugly in battroid mode, fwiw...

 

edit/add:

various HMR valks (incl VF-4) in fighter-mode sizings...

 

Hope it helps your inquiry...

 

 

 

Edited August 10 by treatment

[twich]

28 minutes ago, treatment said:

 

hmmm....

My HMR VF-4 is always in fighter-mode, but here's battroid VF-1 to C-01 comparo for you...

 

VF-4 is just so damn fugly in battroid mode, fwiw...

 

edit/add:

various HMR valks (incl VF-4) in fighter-mode sizings...

 

Hope it helps your inquiry...

 

 

 

Seeing this makes me wish and hope that Bandai does a DX VF-2SS. I just love that design and have for decades!

Twich

[Chronocidal]

1 hour ago, mikeszekely said:

I'm most interested in having at least one VF-1 (probably Fokker's VF-1S), a VF-4, VF-17F, VF-22 (Diamond Force), YF-19, VF-19S, and VF-11 (I prefer C, but I'll take B).  Maybe a VF-5000.  Dunno which of those are even available (though I saw that the VF-2SS exists in HMR... I'd be tempted).

Having a nice concise list is a really good way to start, since it narrows things down considerably.

I think if you're going to pick up one VF-1, I'd try and find either a Yamato or Arcadia strike set if you care about the packs, or even a Bandai DX release, if you want a centerpiece, but sounds like you're not after big ones.  The HMRs aren't bad at all, but they might actually be harder to find, and the 1/60 is still a manageable size, with less fiddly parts to deal with.  If you don't care about the fast packs, the ThreeZero VF-1S is coming out still, and should be pretty easy to pick up from some US sources, if you can't find a Yamato/Arcadia version.

VF-4, you're in luck, the HMR re-release is coming up soon, they should be pretty available from many stores, both foreign and domestic.

VF-17F and VF-22 you're going to have to hunt down, because only the Yamato versions exist of those so far, and they're 1/60 scale.  They'll be pricey, and pretty big.

YF-19 has a couple options, but all in 1/60 scale.  If you don't care about fast packs and missiles, the budget Bandai DX release can be picked up on Amazon for about $220.  The version with all the weapons, or the Arcadia release will both be harder to find and afford, but they definitely are out there.

For the VF-19s in general though, while there is an older Hi-Metal release of it, I would be patient.  Since Bandai is repurposing the old Yamato VF-19 designs and shrinking them down for HMRs, I expect we'll see more HMR VF-19s coming up fairly soon.  The Fire Valkyrie was just released.  If we're lucky, maybe we'll get an HMR YF-19 and YF-21/VF-22, and maybe even a VF-17 or VF-11 while they're on their Macross 7 kick. 

Otherwise, the VF-11 is going to be hard to track down now, unfortunately, especially the C model.

The VF-2SS is probably worth picking up if you find a good deal.  It's a crazy pile of fiddly joints, but it's probably the best version of that valk that exists.

Good luck, and happy hunting!

[no3Ljm]

4 hours ago, mikeszekely said:

So... I was getting some guff about not having any Valkyries, what with this being a Macross board and all.  Is the High Metal line a good place to start?  What's the scale?  I'm not a huge fan of the designs from Frontier on, but I think I'd love a good VF-4.

4 hours ago, mikeszekely said:

Let's see... a 1/100 MG Gundam is about yay tall... and the VF-1 is shorter than Gundam, so... a little bigger than an Earthrise Seeker?  Maybe around the size of Top Gun x Transformers Maverick?

Hey @mikeszekely. Found this photos of Hi-Metal R's VF-1J, VF-4A, and VF-2SS from @jenius Anymoon website. Hope the size of the HMR VF-4A here helps.  

 

If you're into just the VF-4A, maybe the 1/60 VF-4A is right for you. Here's a screenshot from Wotafa's Arcadia 1/60 VF-4A review. Standing with RX-78-2, Robot Damashii (1/144-ish?) and MG 1/100.

[Radioguy]

The only drawback, and someone called them fiddly, is that HMR requires more parts swapping than 1/60+ scales which have integrated landing gear etc. All will have trays of parts, but 1/48 is obviously easier to handle than 1/100 when it comes to them. As one with Carpal Tunnel, I can tell you my HMRs are not as enjoyable to transform. Once I have them in a mode, they usually stay there.

[seti88]

Main advantage i noticed so far in HMR's are displays.

A DX valk is detailed and such, but a squadron (or collection or multiples) of HMR valks/mechs together, is a sight to behold.

Edited August 10 by seti88

[vladykins]

9 hours ago, mikeszekely said:

So... I was getting some guff about not having any Valkyries, what with this being a Macross board and all.  Is the High Metal line a good place to start?  What's the scale?  I'm not a huge fan of the designs from Frontier on, but I think I'd love a good VF-4.

 

I will reiterate what a few folks said, but a lot of it comes down to a few things about what *you* want. I have a series of questions below that I posted in an FB group elsewhere but I'll edit it for here a bit:

 

While you probably do want to buy *everything*, with collecting, it is usually a good idea to find a few things to focus on, as you may quickly run out of money and/or space. That's why I usually ask someone starting their collection a few things to help determine what makes the most sense to start on:


1- Do you have lots of space for display, or are you limited?
If the latter, then you may want to look at smaller scales or focusing on a few key larger scale toys. This may lead you either to lots of Bandai Hi-Metal R (HMR) toys (roughly all centered around 1/90 scale) or a couple Bandai DX 1/48 toys.

2- Do you want just VF-1s or do you also want destroids or enemy mecha? If only VF-1s, then a variety of scales work. OTOH, if you want enemy mecha to pit them against or destroids to display with them, the number of toys/scales you can go after become more limited. There are enemy mecha in the Bandai HMR line, Revolvtech, and eventually supposed to be in the (Robotech) KitzConcept 1/72 line. There is also the old Matchbox toys that work well with 1/55 and 1/60 valks. For destroids, you are limited currently to HMR (only the Defender, Spartan, and the absolutely beautiful Monster), 1/60 scale (Tomahawk and Defender only) and Kitzconcept is coming out with their 1/72 Destroids *eventually*, but no plans that I have seen for the Monster. 

3- Do you only care about hero mechs or do you want different/interesting canon and non-canon color variants?
The Yamato 1/60 has the greatest variation of colors, with a few fun ones in the 1/48 scale that I love (like the low-vis and nearly all-black anniversary) along with a lot of 1/60, Kitzconcept 1/100 has a few unusual color variants like the Jetfire-styled "God of Flame" and the evil purple Jetfire, along with other color variations, HMR is limited mostly to a single color variant but otherwise sticks with canon color schemes, Toynami's (Robotech) 1/100 has a few non-canon color variants but quality is not something they are known for and for the price you should stick with any of the others listed.

4- Are you a completist who wants to see everything in a single scale or are you content to get a few of one thing here and a few in another scale/company there? If the former, then focusing an interest is even more key. Bandai HMR has the widest range of items to be "complete", with releases of just about every major character valk, three of the five destroid models, and the glaug and regults (including both missile regults. The frustration is that they are so close to complete that the things that are missing have often been shown/displayed at past events but never moved to production (they showed the Tomahawk and Phalanx at previous events, the scout Regult at another, and a Nos-J at another, while teasing a Q-Rau another time). But they continue to be, at this time, the most complete selection of "everything. KitzConcept may eventually beat Bandai here if some of the items they have shown ever get released. If you are just going to get *one* of something special, then get the best in that type- which will often be a Bandai or Yammie/Arcadia release.

5- Is collectability a factor in what you are purchasing?
This means you may want to focus on items that are vintage or out of production rather than newer toys. So stuff like the Takatoku/Bandai "chunky monkey" 1/55s from the 80s or the Matchbox toys may be of interest. That does not mean the newer stuff won't become "collectible" in the future, of course. But the future is hard to determine and sometimes a newer release of a certain toy/scale can cut the collectability factor of some of the newer toys, whereas the older TT stuff definitely retains its value. 

6- Is playability a factor or are you popping these things on a shelf and never touching them again, which means the look of the toy may be more important?
If you want to play with/transform the toys on the regular, there is no toy more playable than the classic 1/55 chunky monkeys. But they are not very screen-accurate, having been designed to be beaten up by young children in the 80s. The Matchbox toys are also similar, though you are limited in transformations outside of the SDF-1 toy and the hover tank (but that's not Macross so not discussed here). The HMRs are also highly durable and more screen accurate than the chunkys but are smaller and . The DX 1/48s are beautiful and fun, but the transformation is much more complex and so can hamper some of that playability.
have parts-forming for somethings which is a turn off for some.

I can go on but I think this covers a number of different questions you may have that need answered. On a personal front, my collection mostly started with some old TT/Bandai chunkys (1/55) and moved into the RT "masterpiece" 1/55 and Yammie 1/60s (v1 and then v2) and got coaxed into the 1/48 Yammies by some of the nonstandard color schemes. I stayed away from the HMRs for quite awhile because I didn't want "one more scale" but the Monster convinced me to buy at least that. And then I needed a Defender and Spartan to go with it. And some enemy Regults and Glaug, because you have to have enemies. And sure, I can finally get 1 VF-1, so I'll get that non-canon Messer Memorial Vf-1S. And now damn- I have a ton of HMRs all over.

 

[sumyumgoy]

What I really like about the HMR's are the shorter wings that come with it for battroid mode.  It really helps with posing the figures. 

[Raikkonen]

On 8/10/2024 at 4:00 PM, sumyumgoy said:

What I really like about the HMR's are the shorter wings that come with it for battroid mode.  It really helps with posing the figures. 

I look the small size and compact boxes. So much easier for storing the boxes and when moving. 

[sumyumgoy]

19 hours ago, Raikkonen said:

I look the small size and compact boxes. So much easier for storing the boxes and when moving. 

Totally agree.  If I'm not mistaken, I think they are all mostly the same height too, so it looks nice on a shelf as well.

[locidm]

The VF-19 Kai box art was done by Takeshi Nakamura. This is typically Tenjin's gig. I wonder if this is a one time thing or a permanent thing. Takeshi is pushing 70 at this point so I'm thinking perhaps Tenjin just got too busy.

[Bolt]

A few other Macross box art projects have also been done by other artists. But Tenjin is still pretty busy doing other box art projects. I imagine, at some point,  he'll come back around. 

[graphic revolt]

1/100 plastic crack, can’t wait for their reactive armored release! 

 

[seti88]

6 hours ago, graphic revolt said:

1/100 plastic crack, can’t wait for their reactive armored release! 

and not forgetting, SV-51!

[twich]

Yes, I would love a Hi Metal R SV-51! All three flavors please!

Twich

[mechaninac]

20 minutes ago, seti88 said:

and not forgetting, SV-51!

 

8 minutes ago, twich said:

Yes, I would love a Hi Metal R SV-51! All three flavors please!

Twich

I'll third that sentiment but the wings do give me pause.  I suppose the most efficient and stable solution would be interchangeable sets, one for each folding/folded state; also, given how thin they would be, the boosters, if included, would likely present some sagging issues unless the plastic grade of the boosters are extremely light or the ones for the wings that mount them are very tough/rigid.  Regardless... BRING IT ON!

[twich]

1 minute ago, mechaninac said:

 

I'll third that sentiment but the wings do give me pause.  I suppose the most efficient and stable solution would be interchangeable sets, one for each folding/folded state; also, given how thin they would be, the boosters, if included, would likely present some sagging issues unless the plastic grade of the boosters are extremely light or the ones for the wings that mount them are very tough/rigid.  Regardless... BRING IT ON!

Funny, I had the same thought with the wings. I think it will be another huge set like the VF-2SS SAP Booster set, but will love to see what comes to be!

Twich

[seti88]

18 minutes ago, mechaninac said:

 

I'll third that sentiment but the wings do give me pause.  I suppose the most efficient and stable solution would be interchangeable sets, one for each folding/folded state; also, given how thin they would be, the boosters, if included, would likely present some sagging issues unless the plastic grade of the boosters are extremely light or the ones for the wings that mount them are very tough/rigid.  Regardless... BRING IT ON!

By design, SV-51 would benefit from the HMR treatment. Interchangable parts may make it a more sturdy valk, instead of relying on pure moving joints.

Only thing is the timing of the release, as i would not relish the price of the HMR to be close to the old 1/60 51's. 

On the secondary market SV-51 CF 1/60 scale could be had for 24k yen....and with VF-0A abt 18/17k yen...a HMR SV-51 could very well push the 25k yen envelope, if it takes its time to release..oh well....

Edited August 28 by seti88

[mikeszekely]

On 8/10/2024 at 8:59 AM, vladykins said:

I have a series of questions below that I posted in an FB group elsewhere but I'll edit it for here a bit:

So I gave this a lot of consideration.

1. No, I don't even have space for all my Transformers.

2. Variable mecha only, but in a perfect world at least one of every major Variable Fighter until around the VF-25, when they started looking kind of samey to me.

3. I care far more about the mecha than the pilots.  The only "hero" scheme I really dig is the white with yellow and black Skull Squadron deco, so I might go for Roy's VF-0S when I want a VF-0, Roy/Hikaru's VF-1S when I want a VF-1, Ozma's VF-25S for a VF-25, etc.  Beyond that, I think I almost prefer non-cartoon designs- I think the YF-19 and the Emerald Force VF-19s are particularly bad, and I'd rather prefer some of the decos from the Variable Fighter Master Files books.

4. Referring back to 2, in a perfect world, VF-0, SV-51, VF-1, VF-4, VF-5000, VF-9, VF-11, VF-14, VF-17, VF-19, VF-22, VA-3, and VB-6. with the option to collect a few different model variants, later VFs, and Macross II or other non-canon VFs.  I don't care if they're in-scale with any other toy lines, but they should scale with each other.

5. Collectability isn't a factor at all.  I'll hunt for good deals on used figures, especially if it's just not available new anymore, but I'm definitely not going out of my way to collect older or rarer figures and paying out the nose for them.

6.  Yeah, I'd like something a bit sturdier that can stand up to being handled, and I prefer as little partsforming as possible (ideally none).

With all that in mind, I bit the bullet and ordered my first Macross toy... a used Hi-Metal R VF-4G.  In a vacuum, I do think I might have preferred the premium Arcadia, but the fact is that the Hi-Metal R stuff isn't just cheaper they seem to have the largest selection of mecha, the largest number of variant models and decos for those mecha, and are the easiest to actually find stock of.  I figure, if I like it I can start collecting other Hi-Metal R VFs, and if I don't like it I can either switch to Arcadias or just stick with my Transformers.

When it comes I'll let you guys know.

[Chronocidal]

You can't really go wrong with the HMR VF-4, the only real difference between it and the Yamato/Arcadia 1/60 is that the gear have to be swapped, and you might need to plug in the hands (which you would probably want on the 1/60 anyway, because the folding ones are so tiny).

Regarding the YF/VF-19s in particular, if you're not a fan of the "normal" colors, your best bet might be to hold out for an HMR VF-19P, since the Yamato is hard to track down now.  The stripes tend to be a little on the brighter side, but the base color is white, and there have been a couple of really good examples of how that one is easy to customize just by stripping or painting over the stripes.

That really depends on how much (if any) you would want to customize anything though.  There are just very few options when it comes to the VF-19 schemes, since aside from the P-model, they're either beige, or bright shades of red and blue.

I hear you on the Master File schemes though.  I was really hoping we'd see something like that before Yamato went under, but it never happened.  I picked up a couple extra VF-19Ps on clearance as custom fodder, with the intention of converting at least one to the shorter wing style via 3D printed parts, and decorating it in black striping.

 

[vladykins]

9 hours ago, mikeszekely said:

So I gave this a lot of consideration.

 

I will say that based on your answer, HMR is probably the way to go. They are smaller, they are sturdy enough to play with (I've had one fall seven feet off a top shelf and, while parts flew around, there was no real damage). It has a lot of variety in terms of mecha and keeps expanding the line (even if it frustratingly doesn't finish certain parts it promises- like the still missing Tomahawk, Phalanx, scout Regult, Q-Rau, and Nos-J). I personally have stuff from SDFM, Mac Zero, and Macross II in the line. I also have some of the extra stuff produced by third parties for the line (like the OWL armor). They take up little enough space that I have 25 mechs on a six foot by one foot shelf with more room to display more, another ten in a two foot by three foot shelf, and the enemy mechs in another small area. Sculpts are great for the size, though parts forming is required for a couple minor things (usually landing gear or cockpit swaps- everything else is usually perfect transformation. 

This has been said many times but I'll say it again- the VFs are nice, but the destroids and enemies are the STAR of this line! It's also the most "complete" line we have, even if it is missing key things still that have been produced in other scales by other manufacturers. Yammie/Arcadia have more variety of color schemes for VFs, but lack the enemy mecha and have only 2/5 destroids compared to the 3/5 we have with HMR. And if you can find a good deal, buy the Monster! I didn't want to get into another scale at the time, but decided I wanted the Monster since it looked decent. So I bought that. Then decided it needed a Defender and Spartan to go with it. And the regults and glaug looked good so I got those. And then I decided to grab the Memorial Messer VF-1S since that was an unusual scheme. Next thing I knew I had around 50 mechs in the line. I also have two of the Dougram releases to go with the destroids. 

[no3Ljm]

22 hours ago, graphic revolt said:

1/100 plastic crack, can’t wait for their reactive armored release! 

 

Nice!  

Looks like @graphic revolt is the new @spanner. Buying and displaying each modes.  

Any chance you also have a fourth one for 'just in case'? 

[MKT]

@graphic revolt's toy room is one place I don't mind being shut in for days. 

[Autobrat]

Does anyone know if HMR will come out with DYRL Max's VF1S?  I missed out on their very release and I think Bandai released a VF1A (DYRL).

[Chronocidal]

Only Bandai knows what they'll release, and when.  You'd probably have better chances predicting lottery numbers than their release strategy.  

[Big s]

53 minutes ago, Autobrat said:

Does anyone know if HMR will come out with DYRL Max's VF1S?  I missed out on their very release and I think Bandai released a VF1A (DYRL).

I have an odd feeling that they’ll do one, but it might be a few years as some kinda anniversary type thing 

[WhatBoutMyStar]

Whenever Bandai is ready to finally release Milia's Q-Rau that they teased ages ago, I think that's when Max's 1S will be coming.

Who knows, that may actually be sooner than later as VF-1s generally sell better than others. Since it doesn't seem that the HMR Fire Valk is exactly flying off the shelves, which isn't surprising, Bandai may want to go to something that will be more a sure thing in terms of sales. As someone who would like to see the rest of Sound Force in HMR though, I'm not holding my breath for those or other variations of the VF-19 that I'd want.

[sh9000]

Very nicely detailed Regults.

[Bolt]

40 minutes ago, sh9000 said:

Very nicely detailed Regults.

Yes they are. Quite beautiful indeed!

[mikeszekely]

Got my very first Macross toy (that's actually a Macross toy and not a KO of a KO in Transformers colors), a Hi-Metal R VF-4G.  Took forever to get here... I thought I was buying from an American seller, and I technically was... he just happened to be shipping from an American military base in Okinawa, so it actually came via Japan.  Worth the wait, though.  I haven't had a chance to transform it yet, but I put the leg covers, the fin under the cockpit, and the antenna on, and I mounted it on the stand, and it looks so good.  I get where some people were coming from on some things like the necessity to partsform the landing gear or the fact that the cockpit comes off instead of opening to put the little pilot in, but I think I can live with stuff like that.  Not exactly an apples-to-apples, but the paint and materials on the Hi-Metal R feel much better than the God of Flame.  Probably not fair to judge Yamato/Arcadia based on a KO of a KO, but I'm feeling really good about my call to go with Hi-Metal R for my Macross toys.

I'll take some pictures and do a review later in the week or next week, I think.

Next up, track down a VF-1S in Fokker colors, then probably a VF-0S in Fokker colors.  It's funny, I'm not usually into the standard or "hero" colors, but the black and gold with the Jolly Rodger will never not look good.