Bandai DX GBP Armor Set and VF-1J Armored Valkyrie

[sh9000]

Based on Tenjin art.

[sqidd]

15 minutes ago, spacemanoeuvres said:

Shipped a combo pack and stand alone armor parts from AE. $115 via economy; I think it was a touch spendy 🤑 

Yikes!

[Shawn]

4 hours ago, sh9000 said:

Based on Tenjin art.

 

 

That is purty

 

 

[spacemanoeuvres]

Still no movement in my tracking from Luna Park. They say it should go out this week *shrugs*
 

Very surprised to hear AmiAmi is late with invoices etc.; they are my preferred retailer and I’ve never had an issue. 

Edited October 4, 2021 by spacemanoeuvres
wrods

[mech9T8]

I checked my order status from Nin Nin and it says preparation in progress. At least it’s moving forward. 

[Angesdad]

3 minutes ago, mech9T8 said:

I checked my order status from Nin Nin and it says preparation in progress. At least it’s moving forward. 

As soon as I saw your post I checked them as well, and it does say prep in progress, at last!

[vladykins]

21 hours ago, SUPERULTRAROBORIDER said:

Uh Oh! My combo pack ordered from Luna Park was just scanned as delivered by DHL...in the wrong state! I live in Michigan, my tracking updated as "delivered" in Washington DC. Wth. Order # 10972.

I don't have it. Honest!

 

 

[sh9000]

12 hours ago, Shawn said:

 

 

That is purty

 

 

Thanks @Shawn.

[peter]

I can't believe I bought one of these.  I've been on a model-building frenzy the last few years and can't really appreciate toys anymore, but I felt compelled to get this one (and a few other DX toys lately too)......instant gratification I guess.

I totally missed the boat on the first 1J DX, saw it at a used shop in Japan, passed on it even though it was a good deal. 

The only other 1J toy I have is the 1/55 chunky re-release that someone gave me, but it's sitting in the box, collecting dust. 

Never had a GBP toy, or a decent model so this is sort of my first.  

What can I say, it's massive, and it's got some weight to it, lol!   

[Chronocidal]

Definitely an impressive beast!

DHL just dropped my combo pack at the door, and I gave it a once-over.  Not going to open it up and fiddle just yet, but I have to say, that's probably the nicest packaging presentation Bandai has put together for any of their DX line so far.  Really like the windows, and the black plastic tray layer to hide the rear trays is a nice touch.

Only two minor downsides:
1. I hate the thought of wrecking the bending side of the box to peek inside the windows.
2. It probably shouldn't surprise me so much, but goofy Engrish for well-known words gets me.  While I appreciate the effort in the window box, the labels weren't really necessary, and listing the armaments of the VF-1J as a "GUTTLING GUNPOD" and "RASER GUN" gave me a hard facepalm.  

 

[peter]

39 minutes ago, Chronocidal said:

Definitely an impressive beast!

DHL just dropped my combo pack at the door, and I gave it a once-over.  Not going to open it up and fiddle just yet, but I have to say, that's probably the nicest packaging presentation Bandai has put together for any of their DX line so far.  Really like the windows, and the black plastic tray layer to hide the rear trays is a nice touch.

Only two minor downsides:
1. I hate the thought of wrecking the bending side of the box to peek inside the windows.
2. It probably shouldn't surprise me so much, but goofy Engrish for well-known words gets me.  While I appreciate the effort in the window box, the labels weren't really necessary, and listing the armaments of the VF-1J as a "GUTTLING GUNPOD" and "RASER GUN" gave me a hard facepalm.  

 

Packing is awesome, the best of any DX toys so far, love the windows to look at the toy without opening the box.  Lol, didn't even read the Engrish, hahahahaha!

 

Is anyone else anal like me and carefully peels the sticker seals off, and also tries to remove the glue residue? 

Carefully cut the sticker seal first (I used to try to take it off in one shot, but it's just too messy. 

Nice and clean. 

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by peter
edited for spelling

[Chronocidal]

I'm usually just content to slice the seals to open the boxes, and leave them on.  Too easy to tear the packaging trying to remove them.

[sqidd]

5 hours ago, peter said:

Is anyone else anal like me and carefully peels the sticker seals off, and also tries to remove the glue residue? 

 

No, you're a psycho. 

Edited October 5, 2021 by sqidd

[Angesdad]

Hey @peter, it's cool how you photographed the unboxing, and yes I get a kick out of cutting into that seal ever so carefully too. 

How are things in BC - Man I miss it out there as I am from Vancouver. Moved to Ontario for work & family some years ago.. Used to get my toys quicker 'cause it's closer to Japan too!

[peter]

1 hour ago, sqidd said:

No, you psycho. 

Lol!

I did that with my other DXs as well....Max, Roy and the 1D.  Don't recall sticker seals on my Yammies.

[Mechinyun]

Got my set from Luna Park yesterday - they packed very well this time around, fully boxed and padded on the inside. Thumbs up here.

For the toy itself, its pretty, its beefy!  Just the grey goggles head makes a big difference.  Great addition, glad I got it.

However, I got a loose left shoulder. When the arm armor is on, it cant hold a post with the arm extended out like if twas trying to do a t-pose.

Any ideas on how to tighten it?

[Sanity is Optional]

Got mine from Amazon Japan last Friday, they just threw it in a slightly oversized box with a single small sheet of crumpled brown paper and shipped it DHL.

Miraculously, the DX box is essentially untouched... still wondering how that managed to happen.

[spacemanoeuvres]

14 minutes ago, Mechinyun said:

Got my set from Luna Park yesterday - they packed very well this time around, fully boxed and padded on the inside. Thumbs up here.

For the toy itself, its pretty, its beefy!  Just the grey goggles head makes a big difference.  Great addition, glad I got it.

However, I got a loose left shoulder. When the arm armor is on, it cant hold a post with the arm extended out like if twas trying to do a t-pose.

Any ideas on how to tighten it?

Dang I swear Luna Park is saving my combo pack for last lol

Packing label created 09/13 and then 21 days of crickets. 

[peter]

1 hour ago, Angesdad said:

Hey @peter, it's cool how you photographed the unboxing, and yes I get a kick out of cutting into that seal ever so carefully too. 

How are things in BC - Man I miss it out there as I am from Vancouver. Moved to Ontario for work & family some years ago.. Used to get my toys quicker 'cause it's closer to Japan too!

BC is stupid expensive, especially the lower mainland lol!

Haha, has no one done an actual u boxing yet?  I guess there must be videos out there already, but nobody posted any pics here yet? 

I'm not going to go back all 30 pages to check, but here we go, photo dump time. 

Getting this sleeve on and off is a PITA. 

Pulling the box cover off.  Yeah, I actually took a picture of this.  I guess I always try to preserve every little aspect since I absolutely destroyed all my toy boxes as a kid. 

Sweet, it comes with two heads, one with the grey visor.  I still haven't tried to pop this head onto a 1S or 1A neck. 

Lots of DYRL hands.... Can never get enough of these.  Wish there was an easy way to make these fit onto my old Yammies. 

The oversized balloon hands are ridiculous.  They look comical on the thing and in my opinion are probably anime accurate, but sort doesn't match the precision and accuracy of the rest of the toy.  I don't like them personally.

I didn't read the instructions, just sort of tried to figure it out....underwear on first. 

Pants next

Boosters.... The ugly cradle isn't very visible thankfully, but it is a huge eyesore on the DX strike Valkyries.  Win=Yamato

Sleeves and shoulders. 

Funny, I just bought a complete Kabuto and Yoroi set and this reminded me of setting up the armor for display, or roughly the order of wearing Japanese armor. 

Chest plate on

Fixed pose DYRL hands on, no socks/shoes. 

Detail is amazing

 

So glad there is no need to apply stickers on this thing.

 

[Slave IV]

2 hours ago, peter said:

Packing is awesome, the best of any DX toys so far, love the windows to look at the toy without opening the box.  Lol, didn't even read the Engrish, hahahahaha!

Is anyone else anal like me and carefully peels the sticker seals off, and also tries to remove the glue residue? 

I'm anal in another way, removing the sticker or residue would mean my set is incomplete. Thankfully, the stickers Bandai uses are easy to peel without damaging anything so I just peel them to open and then stick it back when I'm done.

3 hours ago, peter said:

I can't believe I bought one of these.  I've been on a model-building frenzy the last few years and can't really appreciate toys anymore, but I felt compelled to get this one (and a few other DX toys lately too)......instant gratification I guess.

I totally missed the boat on the first 1J DX, saw it at a used shop in Japan, passed on it even though it was a good deal. 

The only other 1J toy I have is the 1/55 chunky re-release that someone gave me, but it's sitting in the box, collecting dust. 

Never had a GBP toy, or a decent model so this is sort of my first.  

What can I say, it's massive, and it's got some weight to it, lol!   

Beautiful picture! BTW, if you need somewhere to get rid of that old 1/55 junk, LMK and I'd be willing to take it off your hands.

[jvmacross]

 

 

toy and poses by @sh9000

Edited October 4, 2021 by jvmacross

[peter]

16 minutes ago, Slave IV said:

I'm anal in another way, removing the sticker or residue would mean my set is incomplete. Thankfully, the stickers Bandai uses are easy to peel without damaging anything so I just peel them to open and then stick it back when I'm done.

Beautiful picture! BTW, if you need somewhere to get rid of that old 1/55 junk, LMK and I'd be willing to take it off your hands.

Lol, it's a reissue, those things aren't worth much are they?

 

[peter]

15 minutes ago, jvmacross said:

 

 

toy and poses by @sh9000

Oh man, I love the artwork.  For a minute there, I got excited, DeAgostini....thought they were going to do a 1/24 scale GBP.

Cool how they went with the DYRL hands instead of the balloon hands.

[Anasazi37]

1 hour ago, Sanity is Optional said:

Got mine from Amazon Japan last Friday, they just threw it in a slightly oversized box with a single small sheet of crumpled brown paper and shipped it DHL.

Miraculously, the DX box is essentially untouched... still wondering how that managed to happen.

Same here. One of the corners was crushed on mine, but not horribly. Everything inside the DX box was fine. Good thing I'm not a stickler for boxes.

[sqidd]

3 hours ago, Mechinyun said:

Any ideas on how to tighten it?

KiKi joint tightner. I've tightened up old junky never been tight 1/55 Chinese knock offs with this stuff. It's fantastic.

https://www.amazon.com/kiki-Loose-Joints-Action-Figure/dp/B002LIBULM

[sh9000]

8 hours ago, peter said:

I can't believe I bought one of these.  I've been on a model-building frenzy the last few years and can't really appreciate toys anymore, but I felt compelled to get this one (and a few other DX toys lately too)......instant gratification I guess.

Nice pic.

[sh9000]

4 hours ago, jvmacross said:

 

 

toy and poses by @sh9000

Sofa King cool.  

[Slave IV]

5 hours ago, peter said:

Lol, it's a reissue, those things aren't worth much are they?

 

No, that’s why you should just give it to me. 😁

[Duymon]

Not entirely sure if it's the cost of the bundle or that many people went just for the standalone armor set, but these Combo packs are pretty damn easy to get near MSRP

[peter]

58 minutes ago, Slave IV said:

No, that’s why you should just give it to me. 😁

Lol!

[borgified]

Don't listen to @Slave IV as you have to mail the re-issues down to So Cal. I can swing over to your place in roughly 20 mins and take it from you. 😛

[sqidd]

3 hours ago, Duymon said:

Not entirely sure if it's the cost of the bundle or that many people went just for the standalone armor set, but these Combo packs are pretty damn easy to get near MSRP

Same for the Roy release. Maybe the new world economy is hurting scalpers margins?

[spacemanoeuvres]

4 hours ago, Duymon said:

Not entirely sure if it's the cost of the bundle or that many people went just for the standalone armor set, but these Combo packs are pretty damn easy to get near MSRP

Yeah there’s one on manda for 32,000. Go go go!!!

[Special Sauce]

Seems like because of the high retail cost of the set it was pretty easy to get it close to the retail price upon release.  Which I'm grateful for, especially after the pre-order night nonsense.  Scalpers can't mark it up though I'm sure some will try after some time passes.

[betocc]

8 hours ago, Duymon said:

Not entirely sure if it's the cost of the bundle or that many people went just for the standalone armor set, but these Combo packs are pretty damn easy to get near MSRP

Armored Parts Set is easy to get below MSRP at YJA, there are a lot of items finishing below MSRP.

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/closedsearch/closedsearch?auccat=&tab_ex=commerce&ei=utf-8&aq=-1&oq=&sc_i=&exflg=&p=DX+VF-1J&x=0&y=0

Edit:

MSRP was 13,200 yen including tax (12,000 no tax) https://tamashii.jp/item/13637/

Edited October 5, 2021 by betocc