Arcadia 1/60 VF-4A ‘Flashback 2012’ Premium Finish & Regular Release

[Sildani]

On 9/17/2020 at 9:52 PM, slide said:

The glass is neither half-full, nor half-empty.

The glass is twice as big as it needs to be!

 

_{I'll show myself out} 

It’s a shot glass. It’s either full or empty. Anything else, someone isn’t trying hard enough. 

[Lolicon]

Cracked and placed an order for a second PF. From Japan charged me the full amount up front this time around. 

[Mommar]

5 hours ago, Lolicon said:

Cracked and placed an order for a second PF. From Japan charged me the full amount up front this time around. 

Now you need a third for matching Gerwalk.

[Bub]

On 9/25/2020 at 3:01 PM, Lolicon said:

Cracked and placed an order for a second PF. From Japan charged me the full amount up front this time around. 

Mommar is correct.

[no3Ljm]

Just posting this one here from Mr.K's twitter feed in case nobody posted it yet.

 

I caved and order the standard release from AmazonJP. 

 

[Sanity is Optional]

After seeing those, kinda glad I didn't go for the PF. I much prefer a more subtle grey panel lining, than the anime-style black panel lining.

At least for non-weathered figures/kits.

Edited October 22, 2020 by Sanity is Optional

[no3Ljm]

6 minutes ago, Sanity is Optional said:

After seeing those, kinda glad I didn't go for the PF. I much prefer a more subtle grey panel lining, than the anime-style black panel lining.

At least for non-weathered figures/kits.

True. I find the lining too dark. And another reason why I choose to get the standard is because I still want to 'PF' my own Valk collections down the road so planning on making them all somehow consistent under my eye.

 

[Chronocidal]

Seriously... wish they would just pick one definition of "premium finish" and stick with it.   

I get that they have to up their game to make it look worthwhile compared with Bandai's overzealous tampo splatter fest, but I was just fine with them sticking to just the markings, because I think factory weathering of any sort just tends to look lousy.

[MacrossJunkie]

On 10/22/2020 at 11:20 PM, Chronocidal said:

Seriously... wish they would just pick one definition of "premium finish" and stick with it.   

I get that they have to up their game to make it look worthwhile compared with Bandai's overzealous tampo splatter fest, but I was just fine with them sticking to just the markings, because I think factory weathering of any sort just tends to look lousy.

+1

I both hate having to buy waterslide decals because their stickers suck and having to apply them myself. I would rather that the markings are all there from the start.

They should call the weathered versions something like "extra premium finish" or "premium finish plus".

Maybe an very limited run of ones where they had someone spend more time to do the weathering better and call it "extra premium finish plus ultra"

[davidwhangchoi]

looks like a kid drew on it.

[no3Ljm]

1 hour ago, MacrossJunkie said:

+1

I both hate having to buy waterslide decals because their stickers suck and having to apply them myself. I would rather that the markings are all there from the start.

They should call the weathered versions something like "extra premium finish" or "premium finish plus".

Maybe an very limited run of ones where they had someone spend more time to do the weathering better and call it "extra premium finish plus ultra"

Or they can just simply call it as “Premium Finish Pro” and “Premium Finish Pro Max”. 

25 minutes ago, davidwhangchoi said:

looks like a kid drew on it.

Hey David. 

 

[Lolicon]

44 minutes ago, davidwhangchoi said:

looks like a kid drew on it.

Sounds like you're describing what I do. 

[F360]

yeah , they really need a better definition of their premium finish ver

they could easily add in Super or Dx on them. 

Normal ver ( stickers  ) 

premium finish (tampo /markings )  (PF vf-0s) 

super premium finish ( tampo/ marking / panel line) (PF vf-4) 

super premium finish dx ( tampo / marking , panel line , extra touches like glow in the dark paint . (PF SDF-1) 

super premium finish  weathering edition ( PF vf-0d )  the best so far 

But that photo of the dark panel lining on the bare white possibly pinkish plastic of the vf-4 does not make it feel that premium 

correction: after taking another look from a bigger screen ,it looks to be a very light gray color 

 

 

Edited October 27, 2020 by F360

[ErikElvis]

The problem with these things is you really have to see it in hand to make a judgement. I’ve bought against my better judgement by pics and have been more than pleased. 

[no3Ljm]

1 hour ago, F360 said:

But that photo of the dark panel lining on the bare white possibly pinkish plastic of the vf-4 does not make it feel that premium 

I’m not sure if this has been already discussed. But after reading the last part of your reply, I ended up looking back again on the twitter photo that I posted a few comments ago. I’m not sure that I’m seeing that white possibly pinkish plastic of their VF-1’s. So I wonder which white tone do you guys think that they’re going to use? Is it going to be as white as the VF-0S or as grey as the VF-0A?

 

[F360]

7 hours ago, no3Ljm said:

I’m not sure if this has been already discussed. But after reading the last part of your reply, I ended up looking back again on the twitter photo that I posted a few comments ago. I’m not sure that I’m seeing that white possibly pinkish plastic of their VF-1’s. So I wonder which white tone do you guys think that they’re going to use? Is it going to be as white as the VF-0S or as grey as the VF-0A?

 

after taking another look from a bigger screen ,it looks to be a very light gray color .  

[jvmacross]

On 10/22/2020 at 1:33 PM, no3Ljm said:

Just posting this one here from Mr.K's twitter feed in case nobody posted it yet.

 

I caved and order the standard release from AmazonJP. 

 

Looks like they hired the team that panel-lined KC's 1/72 VF-1S v 1.0....

 

*edit*

Actually....I think the Arcadia job looks way more heavy-handed.....hope that is not the final product...or the photo just makes it look that way....

Edited October 27, 2020 by jvmacross

[no3Ljm]

29 minutes ago, F360 said:

after taking another look from a bigger screen ,it looks to be a very light gray color .  

At first, I was actually hoping that it's going to be as white as their VF-0S. As long that it's not as grey as their previous VF-X variant, I'm good. I also don't mind them using Bandai's HMR white tone if they decided to.

Photo courtesy of @jenius' Anymoon website.

[technoblue]

I like how it looks, but if Mr. K does request any changes then I agree he could improve the look substantially by having the factory thin out the panel lining effect. I mean, the Tampo printing on this test sample looks nice and sharp so leaving it alone will create an odd contrast.

Edited October 27, 2020 by technoblue

[Lolicon]

I'd be fine with the regular edition if Arcadia would just give us a sheet of decals. Even Bandai gave us decals, if only so we could fix their screw-ups. 

[no3Ljm]

43 minutes ago, Lolicon said:

I'd be fine with the regular edition if Arcadia would just give us a sheet of decals. Even Bandai gave us decals, if only so we could fix their screw-ups. 

^ I'm definitely going to watch out for this.

 

[no3Ljm]

So I was looking back and forth at the picture I shared 3 posts above. The one from Jenius site. Is it ok to ask how do you guys prefer your VF-4's in standing pose? Is it the same as the photo above where the leg vertically lines up to the head making the canopy/chest area angled? Or the canopy/chest area horizontally straight but legs are angled towards the back for balancing and looks like a number 7 from the side view?

 

[Slave IV]

1 hour ago, Lolicon said:

I'd be fine with the regular edition if Arcadia would just give us a sheet of decals. Even Bandai gave us decals, if only so we could fix their screw-ups. 

I thought regular releases always come with decals...don't they? I'm not sure because I never use the included and try to make my own waterslides when I feel the need to add some detail but I'm sure I've seen the sheets in most of my regular Arcadia figures.

[no3Ljm]

2 minutes ago, Slave IV said:

I thought regular releases always come with decals...don't they? I'm not sure because I never use the included and try to make my own waterslides when I feel the need to add some detail but I'm sure I've seen the sheets in most of my regular Arcadia figures.

Yup. Regular releases comes with decal stickers. How I wish Arcadia should start include waterslide decals as well aside from the sticker sheet. That way, they're basically giving options to the collector.

 

[Sanity is Optional]

2 hours ago, technoblue said:

I like how it looks, but if Mr. K does request any changes then I agree he could improve the look substantially by having the factory thin out the panel lining effect. I mean, the Tampo printing on this test sample looks nice and sharp so leaving it alone will create an odd contrast.

All they'd really have to do is switch the paint/ink they use for the panel lining from black to grey.

Does wonders, honestly. I almost never use black panel lining anymore.

[no3Ljm]

13 minutes ago, Sanity is Optional said:

All they'd really have to do is switch the paint/ink they use for the panel lining from black to grey.

Does wonders, honestly. I almost never use black panel lining anymore.

Same here. I like a lighter shade of panel lining. Black looks fake esp for small scale collectibles.

 

[Lolicon]

1 hour ago, Slave IV said:

I thought regular releases always come with decals...don't they? I'm not sure because I never use the included and try to make my own waterslides when I feel the need to add some detail but I'm sure I've seen the sheets in most of my regular Arcadia figures.

I'm referring to waterslides when I talk about decals, though not all decals are waterslides.

The stuff that comes with Arcadia standard releases are stickers.

"Decal stickers" is an oxymoron.

https://cobygraphics.com/difference-sticker-label-decal/

 

33 minutes ago, Sanity is Optional said:

All they'd really have to do is switch the paint/ink they use for the panel lining from black to grey.

Does wonders, honestly. I almost never use black panel lining anymore.

It's really a dark grey. Even the Flory's concrete wash, which looks like a light grey in the bottle, looks pretty dark once applied in lines and dried when applied to a light surface.

[Slave IV]

Just now, Lolicon said:

I'm referring to waterslides when I talk about decals, though not all decals are waterslides.

The stuff that comes with Arcadia standard releases are stickers.

"Decal stickers" is an oxymoron.

https://cobygraphics.com/difference-sticker-label-decal/

 

It's really a dark grey. Even the Flory's concrete wash, which looks like a light grey in the bottle, looks pretty dark once applied in lines and dried when applied to a light surface.

OK, makes sense. Like I said, I never use them so I don't know what they actually are. Partly, my anal need to keep things as original as possible (including keeping the decal or sticker sheet intact), partly because making my own waterslides is fun and I think they usually end up looking better and easier to apply without messing up.

[Anasazi37]

2 hours ago, Lolicon said:

I'd be fine with the regular edition if Arcadia would just give us a sheet of decals. Even Bandai gave us decals, if only so we could fix their screw-ups. 

 

16 minutes ago, Lolicon said:

I'm referring to waterslides when I talk about decals, though not all decals are waterslides.

The stuff that comes with Arcadia standard releases are stickers.

"Decal stickers" is an oxymoron.

https://cobygraphics.com/difference-sticker-label-decal/

 

It's really a dark grey. Even the Flory's concrete wash, which looks like a light grey in the bottle, looks pretty dark once applied in lines and dried when applied to a light surface.

Sounds like I might have to make a set of decals for this release. Relatively easy to do.

[Lolicon]

7 minutes ago, Anasazi37 said:

Sounds like I might have to make a set of decals for this release. Relatively easy to do.

Oooo if you make a full set of decals for this release, I'd love a set. I'll have to pick up a regular edition too, I guess. 

[davidwhangchoi]

16 hours ago, no3Ljm said:

Or they can just simply call it as “Premium Finish Pro” and “Premium Finish Pro Max”. 

Hey David. 

 

Hey Noel!

15 hours ago, Lolicon said:

Sounds like you're describing what I do. 

Arcadia looks like they are using crayola markers

 

[no3Ljm]

21 minutes ago, Anasazi37 said:

Sounds like I might have to make a set of decals for this release. Relatively easy to do.

Ooooh. Count me in as well. 

7 minutes ago, davidwhangchoi said:

Hey Noel!

Arcadia looks like they are using crayola markers

Hahaha!  

 

[Anasazi37]

14 minutes ago, Lolicon said:

Oooo if you make a full set of decals for this release, I'd love a set. I'll have to pick up a regular edition too, I guess. 

I can look at my Yamato VF-4G sticker sheet and use that as a base for now, just so I know what I'm getting myself into. These days, the time I can dedicate to decal projects is pretty limited, with righting the wrongs created by manufacturers high on my list of reasons for taking on a project. I did that for the Plamax 1/20 kits and the Bandai DX line (I'm sure Bandai will create more wrongs with future releases). Arcadia's decisions on these premium finishes are all over the map. If extra markings are what people really want, not crayola-style panel lines, it seems like something they could easily take care of on their own by including both decals and stickers with the standard releases. Until then, I'll try to help if I can.

[MacrossJunkie]

That deep black panel lining is definitely way too much contrast on white. Personally, I use different colors depending on the color of the area I'm panel lining. I would only use that level of black on white where it's actually justified, like at the root of the flaps and ailerons and along lines where I think dirt or oils might collect more. The rest of the panel lining is using varying shades of grey. Like so:

I don't expect them to go that far with the panel lining, just pointing out one of the only times when I think using black on white is acceptable. They just need to use a shade of grey instead.

It makes me glad I didn't go with the premium finish either. Trying to undo that heavy panel lining would be a huge pain in the butt.

 

Also, honestly, I don't know why they don't just make waterslide decals the default to begin with. They've shown they can produce waterslide decals in the past. Well, okay, that was when they were Yamato, but is printing on waterslide decal paper prohibitively more expensive than printing on sticker sheets AND pre-cutting them? There's probably more to it than just swapping out the printing medium, but still.  They're selling to collectors, not kids, so the argument of decals being more fragile goes out the window. We're not banging these things around. Decals look way better and don't have edges lifting or peeling like stickers do. I'd pay the $10-20 more for them to ditch the sticker sheets and include waterslide decals instead.

[sqidd]

33 minutes ago, MacrossJunkie said:

That deep black panel lining is definitely way too much contrast on white. Personally, I use different colors depending on the color of the area I'm panel lining. I would only use that level of black on white where it's actually justified, like at the root of the flaps and ailerons and along lines where I think dirt or oils might collect more. The rest of the panel lining is using varying shades of grey. Like so:

I don't expect them to go that far with the panel lining, just pointing out one of the only times when I think using black on white is acceptable. They just need to use a shade of grey instead.

It makes me glad I didn't go with the premium finish either. Trying to undo that heavy panel lining would be a huge pain in the butt.

 

Also, honestly, I don't know why they don't just make waterslide decals the default to begin with. They've shown they can produce waterslide decals in the past. Well, okay, that was when they were Yamato, but is printing on waterslide decal paper prohibitively more expensive than printing on sticker sheets AND pre-cutting them? There's probably more to it than just swapping out the printing medium, but still.  They're selling to collectors, not kids, so the argument of decals being more fragile goes out the window. We're not banging these things around. Decals look way better and don't have edges lifting or peeling like stickers do. I'd pay the $10-20 more for them to ditch the sticker sheets and include waterslide decals instead.

I reported this post as porn.