Bandai 1/60 DX Chogokin Macross 7 Fire Valkyrie

[MacrossJunkie]

Unlike the YamArcadia version, the intake covers can come off. 

[davidwhangchoi]

58 minutes ago, MKT said:

Well ok, this thing is still alive.
 

is this thing capable of high speed mode? will the wings retract?

 

[rsvictor1976]

1 hour ago, MKT said:

Well ok, this thing is still alive.

 

 

 

From the third picture, you can barely see a panel where missiles are supposed to pop out from its lets. I wonder if the shoulders will open up to reveal the speakers. 

Edited November 14 by rsvictor1976

[Chronocidal]

That's... interesting, at least.  Obviously not a transforming prototype, they're pulling the same shenanigans they did with the VF-31s being solid models for so long.  Can't really predict anything about how the hips/LEX/fuselage are going to transform, but you can tell it's based on the YF-19 mold (same stupid bulgy panel under the nose with the opposite curvature, because of course they're going to double down on the worst-looking aspects as if they're some kind of trademark).

I'd actually love them to curve the LEX more, like they did with the HG kit, so it intersects further behind the cockpit.  Still looks like the same rough shape as the Yamato/Arcadia design, which.. why bother at that point?  Try something different already.

I can see where it'll be a similar comparison to the fighter mode differences though, and I'll be happy to grab as many VF-19 variants as I can, provided they actually make them.  Will probably wind up a similarly more skinny battroid at the end of the day.  They still need to make the canards angle up further.  

I'm going to go against the grain though, and say just nix most of the tampo, especially the intake markings, or just print them in either a different color, or an outline only.  They look entirely out of place, and clash horribly with the red plastic.

  

49 minutes ago, davidwhangchoi said:

is this thing capable of high speed mode? will the wings retract?

Boy I hope not.  

Edited November 14 by Chronocidal

[Graham]

57 minutes ago, davidwhangchoi said:

is this thing capable of high speed mode? will the wings retract?

 

I bloody well hope not!

It's so poorly implemented in both the Arcadia and Bandai versions of the YF-19 toy, which causes several issues.

And more importantly, the VF-19 Fire Valk, was never shown in the anime has having a high speed mode..

[Graham]

I'll buy at least two of these, but I'm more exited about potential VF-19F/S/P versions.

The VF-19F/S Blazer Valks are one of my top favorite VFs after the VF-17D/S Nightmare.

[Graham]

I've gotta say that even though I just recently bought the Arcadia  VF-19 Fire Valk, as my old Yamato versions had all broken elbows, I'm actually as a huge Macross 7 fan super excited for a Bandai DX version.

Of course, as a Macross 7 fan I'd be even more excited for a Bandai DX or HMR VF-17D/S (my all time favorite VF.....Gamlin rules!), a VF-19S/F and VF-22S Max & Millia.

[Chronocidal]

29 minutes ago, Graham said:

I bloody well hope not!

It's so poorly implemented in both the Arcadia and Bandai versions of the YF-19 toy, which causes several issues.

And more importantly, the VF-19 Fire Valk, was never shown in the anime has having a high speed mode..

I mean.. actually it's kind of worse.  Remember Episode 11?

This is even less physically possible than the wings folding back like the YF-19's.  

 

Edited November 14 by Chronocidal

[davidwhangchoi]

i'm curious if it's detailed in an issue of Macross Chronicles or somewhere if the either the VF-19 or VF-22 model Max used in M7 had the capability for high speed mode though it wasn't used in the show. Macross Frontier VF-19 advance was still capable of high speed mode. 

As i recall, Yamato/Arcadia only released version 3 YF-19 with high speed mode but never updated the fire valk to a version 3. 

 

     

[davidwhangchoi]

Edit: Found Max VF-22S using high speed mode

 

 

I'm going to take a leap and guess all the VF-19 models are capable of high speed mode.

 

Edited November 14 by davidwhangchoi

[Hayama Kaito]

nose part may not seem that elegant like the Yamato one, but better intake detail and fixed that knee gap problem, overall big improvement for me. 

though at first I was expecting it as a repackaged producted since the HMR version is just like a shrink-down Yamato

[Chronocidal]

41 minutes ago, davidwhangchoi said:

Edit: Found Max VF-22S using high speed mode

 

 

I'm going to take a leap and guess all the VF-19 models are capable of high speed mode.

 

The YF-21/VF-22 get passes because there is nothing physically impossible about just angling the wings and tails.  Real life aircraft can do that just fine, even without the fancy bendy materials the YF-21 used.  I don't think the VF-22 was actually supposed to be able to do that either, but I don't know off the top of my head whether that was directly stated.

There was never any evidence that the VF-19 Advance could do it though, at least not in the few seconds of footage it was shown in.  Bandai just did it because that release was a sneaky way to get an alternate license to make a YF-19 to compete with Arcadia.

The high speed mode as seen in the animation is physically impossible, just like the way Basara folded back the wings on the Fire Valk in that pic above.  The wings only ever rotated on their main pivots, and would have to pass directly through the legs and arms.  

The only toys that ever did this were the Doyusha 1/144 die cast ones, because they didn't have to transform.

Was the YF-19 supposed to have the same flexible morphing materials the YF-21 did?  Who knows.  But the way the wings are shown folding back cannot work with solid objects.

I do give Arcadia and Bandai credit for trying, and appreciate that they managed to come up with a physical hinge that can relocate the wing to achieve something almost like what the animation showed.

I wouldn't even mind the high speed mode being an option if anyone could mechanically execute it in a way that doesn't suck.  So far, we're 0 for 2 in achieving a functional mechanism.

[MacrossJunkie]

12 hours ago, Graham said:

I bloody well hope not!

It's so poorly implemented in both the Arcadia and Bandai versions of the YF-19 toy, which causes several issues.

And more importantly, the VF-19 Fire Valk, was never shown in the anime has having a high speed mode..

Yeah, I don't see how it would work on the 19 Kai or even the S/F/P to begin with. If nothing else, the vertical stabilizers would be in the way unless they were folded back up over the legs and it just wouldn't sit or look right. It wasn't a problem on the YF-19 or VF-19 Advance since the stabilizers were on the legs themselves.

Logically, it likely wouldn't have made it into the design of the S and F variants since they were optimized for space use rather than atmospheric flight and thus had little need for a high speed mode where there is essentially no drag to worry about. With the P and Kai being more or less based on the same thing but with longer wings, it probably wouldn't have carried over to those either. 

 

10 hours ago, Chronocidal said:

The YF-21/VF-22 get passes because there is nothing physically impossible about just angling the wings and tails.  Real life aircraft can do that just fine, even without the fancy bendy materials the YF-21 used.  I don't think the VF-22 was actually supposed to be able to do that either, but I don't know off the top of my head whether that was directly stated.

There was never any evidence that the VF-19 Advance could do it though, at least not in the few seconds of footage it was shown in.  Bandai just did it because that release was a sneaky way to get an alternate license to make a YF-19 to compete with Arcadia.

The high speed mode as seen in the animation is physically impossible, just like the way Basara folded back the wings on the Fire Valk in that pic above.  The wings only ever rotated on their main pivots, and would have to pass directly through the legs and arms.  

The only toys that ever did this were the Doyusha 1/144 die cast ones, because they didn't have to transform.

Was the YF-19 supposed to have the same flexible morphing materials the YF-21 did?  Who knows.  But the way the wings are shown folding back cannot work with solid objects.

I do give Arcadia and Bandai credit for trying, and appreciate that they managed to come up with a physical hinge that can relocate the wing to achieve something almost like what the animation showed.

I wouldn't even mind the high speed mode being an option if anyone could mechanically execute it in a way that doesn't suck.  So far, we're 0 for 2 in achieving a functional mechanism.

If I recall correctly, along with the BDI, the morphing wing materials didn't make it into the VF-22 due to complexity and cost. 

The YF-19 was a more conventional design and never had that feature.

[PointBlankSniper]

The trailing edge near the wing root is a totally different shape on the Kai, than the flattened edge on the YF. It can't even pretend to have a high speed mode, or that rear corner would dig into the legs way deeper than the YF.

That shallow backward sweep with VF-1 super parts might work though, because the root of the stabilizers can cover the rear half of the gap formed from the corner digging in, while the front half could be filled with w/e is normally hidden and overlapped by the stabilizer and wing root. The super parts could also block some of the view.

The Blazer valks straight up have a bend built into the wing, so there isn't even a way to get rid of the angle that comes mid wing.

Anyway, this is still in vaporware status, so wallet and FOMO are still at peace

[jenius]

Maybe have a pivot point toward the back lower end of the wing so that part could swing out toward the edge of the wing for high speed mode.

[Chronocidal]

I just don't even want them to try it, I'm sick of having to screw with the crappy mechanisms they come up with to make the wings stay in place.

I would crack up if they included VF-1 fast pack mounts for it though.  

[seti88]

20 hours ago, MKT said:

Well ok, this thing is still alive.
 

Unless bandai changes or adds different shades of red to the fuselage, that valk risks looking like a cheap knock off toy, with that large plain color.

Or maybe its the shade of red that matters...

 

[Mommar]

There is zero reason to ever support high speed mode on the 19.  It's just structurally unsound, and frakking stupid looking too.

[David Hingtgen]

44 minutes ago, seti88 said:

Unless bandai changes or adds different shades of red to the fuselage, that valk risks looking like a cheap knock off toy, with that large plain color.

Or maybe its the shade of red that matters...

 

Make the yellow less intense.  It's not THAT insanely rich a shade on the show IIRC. They've got "fast food golden-yellow" there, which a lifetime of seeing such conditions people to associate it (especially with red) as "cheap".   

[MKT]

A peek at the schematic drawing with the display. Hopefully clearer pics of it become available soon.
 

 

Seeing the proportions of the legs, it looks like Bandai used their own YF-19 as the base. Not surprising, seeing how the Fighter intake sculpt also looks very similar as what I remember to their DX YF-19, plus the lack of knee gap in that mode. 

I wonder, if they will also have the folding shin panels as well..?

 

[Graham]

I so hope Bandai do a DX VF-19F and VF-19S so I can make Emerald Force.

I mean I've still got my old Yamato's but  but they are getting a bit loose in places and I really have to baby the elbow joints as some of them have small cracks.

And the tampo printed markings on the Bandai Fire Valk look great, not too excessive like on the DX YF-19 & YF-21.

[Chronocidal]

The folding/collapsing inner leg mechanism on the YF-19 is as overly complex as it is ingenious, but it comes with a couple of annoying detriments.

Primarily.. I miss being able to extend the feet in fighter mode.  I like displaying fighters standing on the feet vertically, it's just a nice way to save space.

Otherwise though, I think that mechanism also contributes a little to how.. sloppy the arm alignment feels.  It doesn't seem to line up well, and the arms don't feel solidly attached to anything in fighter mode.  They just kind of float with the shield, and it means the gunpod is also sloppy.

[seti88]

6 hours ago, David Hingtgen said:

Make the yellow less intense.  It's not THAT insanely rich a shade on the show IIRC. They've got "fast food golden-yellow" there, which a lifetime of seeing such conditions people to associate it (especially with red) as "cheap".   

Lol didnt think of that fast food reference before! Oh boy if only it was a happy meal toy! 🤪

at macross nald's of course...😂

 

[David Hingtgen]

I haven't thought of Macrossnald's in years!

[PointBlankSniper]

Wotafa just released cam footage someone sent him of the Tamashii nation event.

Not that there's anything new to see, but if anyone wants to stare at it in a pan by motion...

There's also footage of the 27sp and 25 tornado. I'm too lazy to spam repost of the vid lol

[recon]

On 11/15/2024 at 1:07 PM, Graham said:

I so hope Bandai do a DX VF-19F and VF-19S so I can make Emerald Force.

I mean I've still got my old Yamato's but  but they are getting a bit loose in places and I really have to baby the elbow joints as some of them have small cracks.

And the tampo printed markings on the Bandai Fire Valk look great, not too excessive like on the DX YF-19 & YF-21.

This. I would love to have both emerald and diamond force variants and i will be more or less one with macross unless they release M2 variants

[David Hingtgen]

This is one instance where "Bandai excessive tampo printing" could look great---on Emerald Force -19F's and 19S's.   They look really good with all the optional Yamato stickers on.   

[Graham]

2 hours ago, David Hingtgen said:

This is one instance where "Bandai excessive tampo printing" could look great---on Emerald Force -19F's and 19S's.   They look really good with all the optional Yamato stickers on.   

Agree......as long as it's just warning markings, numbers, Emerald Force squadron logo etc.

I just don't want Bandai adding random extra, never before seen stripes all over the VF, like they did with the DX YF-21.

 

 

[Chronocidal]

I'm okay with subtle tampo, but I also really don't want them splattering the logos all over any of them.

The hard part is going to be balancing the details with the cartoony aesthetic Macross 7 ran with.  The VF-19s never looked like real aircraft in the show, so I'm not sure realistic aircraft markings will look that great on them.

I have seen good looking squadron markings and other sorts of insignias done well on the Emerald Force valks.  I also have very little faith that Bandai would ever use something so sensible as just putting the modex numbers in logical places.  Maybe they'll go with the Master File as a pattern? That wouldn't be too bad, but I still find the Emerald Force logo an eyesore just from how much it clashes with the colors of the actual planes.  I'd really rather they just used a realistic tail code.

[MKT]

I guess simple tampo like what Arcadia currently doing with non-PF valks are fine. Not too bare, not too much, in keeping with the cartoon aesthetics. 

I certainly hope Bandai won't do a Mac 7 equivalent of the N.E.T.F.C. splashed across the wing like their YF-19. 

[David Hingtgen]

19 hours ago, Graham said:

Agree......as long as it's just warning markings, numbers, Emerald Force squadron logo etc.

I just don't want Bandai adding random extra, never before seen stripes all over the VF, like they did with the DX YF-21.

Right.  "Adding logical details that the animation simply couldn't do when hand-drawn across 50 episodes" (like a zillion little no-steps, the modex numbers, and the squadron insignia) is a good thing.

Completely inventing a new paint scheme (stripes!) is not.   

[davidwhangchoi]

with this fire valk, it gives M7 fans the hope that Bandai will make the entire fire bomber DX lineup. 

....or they can wait till arcadia does the 5000 and steal the design

 

 

[Chronocidal]

I frankly do not trust anyone to even try and make the MAXL.  I don't think anyone has ever been able to justify the investment for a design that funky, no matter how long it's gone without an actual transforming toy of any type.

[PointBlankSniper]

1 hour ago, Chronocidal said:

I frankly do not trust anyone to even try and make the MAXL.  I don't think anyone has ever been able to justify the investment for a design that funky, no matter how long it's gone without an actual transforming toy of any type.

Bandai has done Kouryu and Anryu in candy toy before. They are just as fembot and transformable, and as partsforming as the DX YF-21. They are willing to sell funky fembots if there are enough fans willing to throw money at them for the sake of completion. I'm sure bandai will make the MAXL whether anyone asked for it or not, and it won't even need to look good in any form even with partsforming, while it comes out 10 years late. 🙃

As a bonus that is on topic, this popped up while I was looking at how screwed up the MAXL is.

I don't know how official this is, but now we can assume the leg super parts straight up just swallows the whole wing root and hides any jank.

[Chronocidal]

Ok, not familiar with those bots, but what sort of product line were they released in?  Something DX level, or more like a cheap and nearly disposable transformer?

My real concern is that the MAXL is buried in at least four layers of niche fandom, and the fact that no one has even tried to make one in the past is very telling.  I just don't think the fandom exists to make it pay off, and Bandai is nothing of not incredibly risk averse with Macross releases.

Edited 3 hours ago by Chronocidal