DX Chogokin VF-25S Armored Ozma Lee Revival ver.

[PvtPrivate]

On 6/11/2024 at 11:58 AM, MKT said:

Still not entirely convinced yet that it's actually a retail release outside Japan, until more stores are carrying them. It's entirely possible US stores that have already listed it are just buying via proxies and reselling, like someone said what BBTS sometimes do for P-Bandai Gundams, and there won't be any legal block this time as long as the item is not from SDFM / DYRL.

Over at Asia, it looks like stores are selling it like a regular Macross P-Bandai item with appropriate proxy mark-up just like they always did for years, instead of JP-equivalent price that they normally do for other WWM items.  

Yup, its not retail release here, at least not in Indonesia. It is being treated exactly like a P-Baindai item, the difference is that they can sell it overseas, unlike the VT-1.

[davidwhangchoi]

Not sure about Indonesia but it's a USA retail release.

Multiple US retailers that don't offer proxy service or imports already have them up for pre-order. 

 

[m0n5t3r]

On 6/8/2024 at 4:31 AM, PointBlankSniper said:

Now that I've thought about it, the way this looks, regular retailers like hlj, hobby search, and amiami can't even sell this. This isn't a retail release at all, let alone WWM. This is definitely the usual tamashii web/P-bandai release. Anyone that is able to sell this already regularly deals in P-bandai stuff.

Bandai probably chickened out on production volume because the size of the toy or something.

I'd say don't count on it being different overseas. I'm guessing it will open orders on bandai's overseas sites 2 months late or something. The few times pb gunpla broke this rule and went retail overseas had highly publicized bluefin invovlement in distribution long before release. This isn't going down the same path at all. It's just looking like the good old scalper release, with the difference of everyone being conditioned to think it would be WWM.

If this was a regular retail release, the preorder price would be somewhere close to the VF-31J's. Local preorder prices for the VF-25S are actually higher than the YF-21's since it's a TWE. I'm pretty sure that the Armored VF-25S is more sought-after than the Super VF-31J, so the reasoning for making a product exclusive to guarantee sales and/or ROI doesn't really apply here. This is Bandai giving us the finger yet again. Thanks a lot Bandai! 

[m0n5t3r]

Got lucky with the timing of my preorder with a decent payday sale discount from a local online shop. Plus a 6 mo. 0% interest installment deal which is gonna help make it easier to pay for this TWE MF.

[HardlyNever]

Anyone have any info regarding release date for this beyond "November?"  Just wondering if there is any chance of getting this in hand next month for those that preorderd.

[PointBlankSniper]

1 hour ago, HardlyNever said:

Anyone have any info regarding release date for this beyond "November?"  Just wondering if there is any chance of getting this in hand next month for those that preorderd.

Bandai usually goes radio silent until release, unless there is a delay that sends it into another month. It hasn't been exhibited anywhere afaik, and there doesn't seem to be anything displayed at NYCC thats running right now either. Usually retailers might know exact dates, but this is web exclusive, so resellers are less likely to know better than us.

[no3Ljm]

2 hours ago, HardlyNever said:

Anyone have any info regarding release date for this beyond "November?"  Just wondering if there is any chance of getting this in hand next month for those that preorderd.

Most of DX Chogokin figure gets released towards the 2nd half of the month. And since this is a P-Bandai/TWE release, it's also depends on how early the proxy sellers will get the item from Bandai too.

So it's either you'll get the figure towards end of November, or if not, then atleast you'll have an early Christmas present.  

[Angesdad]

Hey gang I’ve finally gotten my paws on an armoured parts for Alto after stalking Mandarake for quite some time now, an awesome kit but I see that the grey plastic is real glossy for my taste. The red looks right. Has anyone tried top coat treatment on this particular armour set, If so does the metallic paint on the boosters get dull and lose its metallic sheen thus looking like matte grey? Your input is much appreciated.😊

[Lolicon]

50 minutes ago, Angesdad said:

Hey gang I’ve finally gotten my paws on an armoured parts for Alto after stalking Mandarake for quite some time now, an awesome kit but I see that the grey plastic is real glossy for my taste. The red looks right. Has anyone tried top coat treatment on this particular armour set, If so does the metallic paint on the boosters get dull and lose its metallic sheen thus looking like matte grey? Your input is much appreciated.😊

Well part of its sheen is in the glossiness of the plastic, so you'll definitely lose some of it if you topcoat it.

If you're really concerned about retaining its current look, you can always just pop the boosters off and not coat them.

I topcoated my Revival 25F so you can see how it looks here. I used a semi-gloss finish instead of going full matte though.

[David Hingtgen]

I too am curious about matte-coating the armor pack, since I now have a revival -25, and the sheen difference is pretty extreme.   

My main concern about various coatings is durability.   

[Angesdad]

4 hours ago, Lolicon said:

Well part of its sheen is in the glossiness of the plastic, so you'll definitely lose some of it if you topcoat it.

If you're really concerned about retaining its current look, you can always just pop the boosters off and not coat them.

I topcoated my Revival 25F so you can see how it looks here. I used a semi-gloss finish instead of going full matte though.

That is a beautiful semi gloss finish😍 I should have been more specific, the metallic finish of my inquiry was on the silver radiator fin things middle of the boosters. For sure I am staying away from applying matte coat as it will pretty much flatten metallic feel and make it look grey almost, done it before swore I’d never do it again. 🤣 As for what @David Hingtgen mentioned, durability could be an issue however if you clean it well oil free prior to top coat, it should be okay?!

[Lolicon]

2 hours ago, Angesdad said:

That is a beautiful semi gloss finish😍 I should have been more specific, the metallic finish of my inquiry was on the silver radiator fin things middle of the boosters. For sure I am staying away from applying matte coat as it will pretty much flatten metallic feel and make it look grey almost, done it before swore I’d never do it again. 🤣 As for what @David Hingtgen mentioned, durability could be an issue however if you clean it well oil free prior to top coat, it should be okay?!

Ah, thought you were talking about the booster nozzles. Looks like it would be pretty easy to just mask that part if you really want to maintain its original finish. 

[Chronocidal]

57 minutes ago, Lolicon said:

Ah, thought you were talking about the booster nozzles. Looks like it would be pretty easy to just mask that part if you really want to maintain its original finish. 

That was my thought as well.  It's not going to be a small amount of masking, but it's definitely doable, if you only want to reduce the shine on certain parts.

[Angesdad]

Maybe the new Ozma kit released next month will inspire me to top coat Alto’s down the road, for now I put it up for the first time and it is glorious!

the bunny gal is for scale comparison purposes only.😜

Edited November 23 by Angesdad

[Lolicon]

2 hours ago, Angesdad said:

Maybe the new Ozma kit released next month will inspire me to top coat Alto’s down the road, for now I put it up for the first time and it is glorious!

the bunny gal is for scale comparison purposes only.😜

Looks good! Though I think you need to give it the same treatment you give your little D. 

[Arhur_skull001]

It's already November, does anyone know the release date of the Vf-25s armored?

[Graham]

Likely to be released on or after 21st November I think.

[no3Ljm]

November 25 Release Date.

[Chronocidal]

Well crap, looks like I'll have to figure out how to make the shops I bought mine from hold them to ship until next year..    Going to be out of contact while I help some family move.

[Hayama Kaito]

not sure if there's going to be a delay, they still haven't announce the release date

[PointBlankSniper]

43 minutes ago, Hayama Kaito said:

not sure if there's going to be a delay, they still haven't announce the release date

Release date is 2 posts above you

[ArchieNov]

Looks like it's been released in HK already

[Mommar]

Depending on the shop it says 29th or 30th for the release.  I'm aware the official post says it's today.

[valhary]

In Hobbyland seems to be already

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCyZv4ZhuMK/

Edited November 25 by valhary

[PointBlankSniper]

Who's ready for a new round of Bandai QC?

[Angesdad]

Waiting for someone posts a review I’d like to see how they treated “matte” surface finish for the armor parts.😎

[seti88]

5 hours ago, PointBlankSniper said:

Who's ready for a new round of Bandai QC?

dont jinx it!

[seti88]

10 hours ago, valhary said:

In Hobbyland seems to be already

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCyZv4ZhuMK/

hubba hubba!🥰

[rsvictor1976]

Such a beautiful mess. I really hope it has some improvements other than what we've already seen in previous Revival releases. 

[bruinsinla]

Just got notification from Hobby Genki that’s it’s in my private warehouse.  

[Chronocidal]

Shipping notification from BigInJapan on my end as well, glad they offer EMS, since I won't be able to pick that one up from the post office until after new years.

Edit: And there's the Hobby Genki copy in the warehouse as well, so I'm set. 

Edited November 26 by Chronocidal

[Graham]

Yep, confirmed it's out here in Hong Kong. 

I just picked up one from the toy store near my office, during my lunch break.

[davidwhangchoi]

Nice! it has the brownshipper box.

I wonder if the USA retailers will have the brown shipper included. 

Ozma 25s is a great valk. 

[MKT]

That's looking good @Graham. The cockpit canopy on the previous Renewal 25S have a very light purple tint, but on this Revival it looks to be almost entirely absent.

Not expecting new engineering changes, so likely it'll have floppy joints almost immediately once the armors are installed lol. But am just happy to be close to getting this after so many years.
AE just notified mine is now in PW.

[PointBlankSniper]

The lessening canopy tint on some of these revivals makes me a little sad. It's supposed to be part of the unit's distinct color scheme, and more canon than all the "no step" warnings all over the wing. It looks like the nose sensors have lost color along with it too.

Here's to hoping the joints aren't floppy at least before the armor goes on lol.

Gonna have to decide if I wan't to warehouse mine and wait for other items, depending on if it somehow is still light enough for air small packet.