Bandai DX VF-31

[Scyla]

The problem is that it is impossible for the Battroid to hold the gun with those awful hands.

[Lord_Of_Tetris]

7 minutes ago, Scyla said:

The problem is that it is impossible for the Battroid to hold the gun with those awful hands.

Yep. I'm not a big fan of swapping parts in and out, and the hands that actually can grip the gun (sigh) don't tuck away in jet mode.

[David Hingtgen]

Did anyone NOT get Mirage, that wanted one?   Is that a first for a main character DX in a long time?

[Sildani]

My 31C just landed in NY!

[F360]

3 hours ago, Mommar said:

Yeah, they changed how the holds work and it's a massive pain in my ass.  Now I can't hold at the FedEx Office that's a two minute drive from my Mom's but I can hold at a bunch of shitty Walgreens in questionable neighborhoods that aren't nearly as convenient to reach.

hmm, adding the Walgreens shouldn't take the other fedex office away,  Did you try calling the 1800 number? the customer service rep should be able to overwrite it as long as that fedex office still hold packages .  The only ones they can't are the one the shipper put a restriction on , like phone companies , apple, etc.

[funkymonkeyjavajunky]

5 hours ago, David Hingtgen said:

Did anyone NOT get Mirage, that wanted one?   Is that a first for a main character DX in a long time?

I'm still looking for a Mirage.

[spacemanoeuvres]

20 minutes ago, funkymonkeyjavajunky said:

I'm still looking for a Mirage.

@funkymonkeyjavajunky

https://www.nippon-yasan.com/20591-macross-delta-dx-chogokin-vf-31c-siegfried-mirage-farina-jenius-custom.html

[anubis20]

Didnt they announce the super parts for the J and F on release date?  I need to PO my super parts ASAP 

[Mommar]

8 hours ago, F360 said:

hmm, adding the Walgreens shouldn't take the other fedex office away,  Did you try calling the 1800 number? the customer service rep should be able to overwrite it as long as that fedex office still hold packages .  The only ones they can't are the one the shipper put a restriction on , like phone companies , apple, etc.

The people at the 800 number don't have a clue what's going on.  Especially since FedEx Office is a separate company.  They become even more confused when the packages are from overseas.

Edited September 11, 2017 by Mommar

[505thAirborne]

8 hours ago, Sildani said:

My 31C just landed in NY!

Nice! Mine arrived in Chicago Sunday afternoon. 

[Alex GS]

I got  my tracking number from DHL!!!, Farina is under way!!, so happy right now!  

[barurutor]

Minor minor nitpick: this is the only place where I've read Mirage referred to only by her 2nd name Farina.

[Shukenzero]

Got my unit from HLJ his morning. Waiting on a second from my local guy. Packaging really pops. Haven't had a chance to swoosh it yet; will do later tonight.

HLJ were very fast with their shipping and the boxes always arrive in great condition.

[Lolicon]

You know, in about 100 million years or so, continental drift will cause the west coast of North America to be right up close to the east coast of Japan. Then I won't have to wait so long for packages to arrive and I can get my valkyries a day or two sooner. 

[Shukenzero]

6 minutes ago, Lolicon said:

You know, in about 100 million years or so, continental drift will cause the west coast of North America to be right up close to the east coast of Japan. Then I won't have to wait so long for packages to arrive and I can get my valkyries a day or two sooner. 

By then you'll probably be flying in your own Valkyrie through wormholes. Will be swooshing on a whole new level. Oh and we'll probably resemble the humans from Wall E

[Sildani]

It's at my local distribution center. EMS didn't mess around this time!

[Sandman]

On 9/10/2017 at 7:11 AM, Alex GS said:

Does anyone have an idea of when the Preorders for the DX VF-31S or the VF-31E will be open ?

No word yet. I'm actually hoping they hold off for a bit since oct to march is going to be jam packed with Arcadia and Bandai releases.

[Sildani]

And it's here! Pic of open box and initial fighter display. It's covered in a couple strips of sticky transparent plastic. I carefully peeled it away with no issue.

 

[Moosey]

Wrong shade of purple, PO cancelled.

(someone had to day it)

Grats @Sildani 

[Mommar]

The color looks great.

[valhary]

http://shishioh.info/DX_CHOGOKIN_VF-31J_SIEGFRIED_MIRAGE_USE_2.php

[Sildani]

Last pics. You can see the 31C's color is brighter than the color chosen by the Figurarts Zero team. 

Edited September 11, 2017 by Sildani
Dat rear aspect.

[F360]

https://hlj.com/product/BANN16119

still up

[505thAirborne]

3 minutes ago, Sildani said:

Last pics. You can see the 31C's color is brighter than the color chosen by the Figurarts Zero team. 

Love that list pic! Can't wait for my 31C so I can put Mirage's figure next to it. Two different shades, but I'm cool with it! 

[Sildani]

Yeah, it doesn't bother me at all. Love seeing the two together finally! I ordered some of Xigfrid's missiles off his Shapeways store, so I'll do more and better pics once those are painted. 

[Lolicon]

Looks great! Can't for mine to arrive. 

Sildani you live in a Radio Shack? 

[Saburo]

Congrats @Sildani!  Seeing your pics of 31C and FAZero Mirage are making more impatient.  I have both due to arrive, 31C hopefully tommorrow and FAZero hopefully soon I ordered off ebay free shipping no tracking number though.

[no3Ljm]

This one should be painted 'red'.

Congrats everyone on your VF-31C!

 

[no3Ljm]

On 9/10/2017 at 8:07 AM, recon said:

Just a question guys. For battroid mode display, you guys prefer the arm gun pods rotated downwqrds or tuck away?

If it's just standing, tucked away. But in action pose, I like it exposed and mount the Gunpod back in the charger station as a cannon.

 

[505thAirborne]

10 minutes ago, Saburo said:

Congrats @Sildani!  Seeing your pics of 31C and FAZero Mirage are making more impatient.  I have both due to arrive, 31C hopefully tommorrow and FAZero hopefully soon I ordered off ebay free shipping no tracking number though.

Look forward to your 31C pics Saburo! 

[Lolicon]

5 minutes ago, no3Ljm said:

If it's just standing, tucked away. But in action pose, I like it exposed and mount the Gunpod back in the charger station as a cannon.

 

Ohhhh that reminds me... I can give the red lightsaber to Mirage.

Sorry, I meant beam saber! 

[no3Ljm]

51 minutes ago, Lolicon said:

Ohhhh that reminds me... I can give the red lightsaber to Mirage.

Sorry, I meant beam saber! 

Sssh. Don't call it beam saber.

 

[Sanity is Optional]

1 minute ago, no3Ljm said:

Sssh. Don't call it beam saber.

 

I believe the technical term is "Burney Sword".

[David Hingtgen]

Purples usually photograph reddder than reality, so I'll wait until I see it myself.  That said, I'm not certain her valk is supposed to exactly match her flightsuit.   (IMHO the proper hue is about mid-way between the DX and the Figuarts, but brighter than either) 

[Sildani]

Ok, I don't want this to be all about me, but this is my first 31 and my first Valkyrie of the "new generation" that Bandai started with the YF-30, so let me give my first impressions of this. 

Firstly, it's very well made. Paint apps are nicely applied with very little overspray, and all of that is on the wingtip navigation lights. Tampo printing is plentiful and perfectly applied. I haven't seen any misaligned or partial prints yet. The toy was built very well with no severe gaps or tool marks. All features work smoothly. 

The transformation is very intuitive. Parts fall together quite well and I had a great idea of what went where. My misstep was with the head's neck plate - it's on a double hinge and I pushed it forward, toward the torso, rather than away. Then I wondered why the torso didn't collapse and lock properly. A watch of Jenius' transformation video and a read of the manual showed me my error. 

Third: the matte finish is gorgeous. Much better than the glossy VF-27 or 25A I have. Makes it look like a model and not a toy. I'm a devoted fan now. 

Fourth: the main landing gear are the worst I've ever encountered. They resist twisting, so that I peel a fingernail trying to turn them, and then the rubber tires peel off. Horrible, and I can't believe an airplane nut like Kawamori signed off on that. 

Fifth: all this time I thought the drone charger panels were made of clear green plastic for some reason. I was surprised to see they're actually metallic green paint. Disappointing. 

Sixth: um, Makina's figure isn't as, uh, full-figured as I thought she'd be. Did they just repaint Freyja?

Last: those four empty hardpoints are screaming for missiles to fill them. Thanks to Xigfrid for making some very nice ones, and bollocks to Bandai for only making their own missiles available in a very few, out of print toys. 

Overall, I'm very very pleased. Colors are great, head design is like an evolved 1J's, and everything clicks and ratchets and notches together beautifully. Just CURSE those landing gear!