A couple of weeks ago, VF5SS and I got together to discuss the 1/55 VF-1 Valkyrie toy, a highly influential, internationally bestselling and memorable toy from 1982, with a highly complex background to match.
For your listening pleasure, we hereby present the story of Takatoku’s masterpiece, the 1/55 VF-1, from prototype to toy, to bootleg, to reissue.
I believe a great deal of this information is new to English-speakers, since a lot of it is taken from the following Japanese sources: Figure Oh #130, #77 and #134; Model Graphix #318, and Shoji Kawamori Macross Design Works.
LISTEN HERE: Streaming version on Youtube.
More links & info after the jump.
Original blog post on Collection DX (as “The Veef Show Episode 38”)
A nearly complete collection of Takatoku’s major Macross toys.
Bandai’s range of Takatoku re-issues with assorted original toys.
Advertisements showing Takatoku promoting the toy as a customizable piece:
Sit back with some Yoshinol and enjoy!
Discussion:
Jump to the podcast discussion thread!
Jump to the “1/55’s Revisited” discussion topic on the MW forums