Bandai DX VF-31

[anime52k8]

The way I see it, the only difference between color schemes in the frontier/delta era and in SDF:M/DYRL? is the complexity of pattern.

The VF-1's had simple, blocky color applications because it would have been too hard to constantly animate complex liveries and detailed logos with hand painted cels in the 80's.

skip ahead to today and they color schemes aren't any louder, they're just more intricate because technology will allow it.

Edited November 20, 2015 by anime52k8

[M'Kyuun]

The way I see it, the only difference between color schemes in the frontier/delta era and in SDF:M/DYRL? is the complexity of pattern.

The VF-1's had simple, blocky color applications because it would have been too hard to constantly animate complex liveries and detailed logos with hand painted cels in the 80's.

skip ahead to today and they color schemes aren't any louder, they're just more intricate because technology will allow it.

I think so, too.

Honestly, I don't mind the -31's color scheme, although it is rather pretty for a combat aircraft; it looks like a designated airshow scheme. I don't find it as jarring as the M7 schemes, though; those things punch you in the face with their gaudiness. The blue, white, and gray are subdued; it's the red streaks that really catch the eye, and stand out from the rest. I could live without them, but overall, I like the look of this valk as-is. I'd be really happy to see it in a low-vis scheme, though. I was just thinking, it would have been cool had Kawamori made those forearms just a little more robust, and internalized the weapons, like modern fighters. But his current trend seems to be going towards nostalgia rather than real tech direction, which is fine from an artistic POV. 80's fighters were pretty.

[dialNforNinja]

Hmmm... so, idol group ala AKB48 in robots, versus ... a boy band? They do all have that bishonen look, and the little fold quartz-y hair ornaments...

And single barrel cannons as the integrated weapons on the idol group's units says "speaker pod cannon" to me, but then the only thing I didn't like about Macross 7 was Basara upstaging Mylene so I'm half looking for more in that vein. Heck, I did an SES equipped VF-27 fanart a while back ("VF-27kai SES Sandalphon") which I'm pretty sure I posted here at MWF.

Still, no chance of me buying any VF-31 but the yellow or black ones, and not much chance of those really since I strongly dislike the backpack-angel-wings style. I considered modding my VF-25G model kit to have VF-19 style hip-wings instead of the little hip danglies separating from the leading edge, but the joints aren't up to supporting that kind of weight. Getting an SV-262 is a bit more likely (I really like the Draken) but it depends greatly on the other two modes.

Edit to fix the unit name of the Sandalphon, but having found the thread the images have fallen to web rot, having once been hosted on Imageshack.

Edited December 9, 2015 by dialNforNinja

[Tochiro]

Hmmm... so, idol group ala AKB48 in robots, versus ... a boy band? (snip).

No, that's not it at all. As was established a month ago, the girls aren't pilots.

Try checking out the TV & Movies forum every now and then f^_^

Probably the better place to get actual information on the series/animation.

[arbit]

No, that's not it at all. As was established a month ago, the girls aren't pilots.

Try checking out the TV & Movies forum every now and then f^_^

Probably the better place to get actual information on the series/animation.

Thank God. My hear sank as I read his "scoop".

[dialNforNinja]

Hardly a scoop, just a WAG based on character designs. I'm more apt to be the last to know than the first. Looking at the pictures some more, the VF-31 has some resemblance to the Motodyne Type-26 original VF I sketched up a while back, and posted some crappy scans of in this thread:

http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=37412

Obviously not the snake-head cockpit or VF-27-ish secondary engine nacelles, but the wide delta central wing section and the FSW outboard panels are a lot like the 26 in oversweep configuration. I should get back to this design, I never did make a 3d model of it.

Edited December 9, 2015 by dialNforNinja

[DARKWIND]

LOVE IT!!!

Just as much as the 30!

Now to find a preorder. . . .!

[Mommar]

I do wonder if they'll release the 31 prior to the show premeiring. Doesn't seem like a good way to maximize sales if people don't know if they like the protagonist yet.

[dialNforNinja]

The more I look at them, the more the SV-262 steals my enthusiasm for the VF-31. Then again, that seems to happen a lot with the enemy variable devices - the SV-51 was exciting and new versus yet another humdrum VF-1 variant (even if IC it's the other way around with the Phoenix and the Valkyrie) in Zero, basically the same in M7 with the Varauta designs versus the again-too-much-like-a-VF-1 VF-11s combined with Basara being as annoying as if they gave whatsisname Minmei's preachy cousin his own show, again with the VF-27 versus 25s in F, even though they were actually just trim variations of each other... M+ was the only main line Macross property where I can say I liked the protagonist mecha more since SDFM-TV, where there were no enemy variable fighters. The Pheyos and Variable Glaug from the video games hold spots right after the VF-4, for that matter.

Ah well, it's a good bet there'll be plenty of mecha porn for everyone in Delta with both sides having their own, much like Zero, so I'm sure I'll get by. One of the green/silver 262s is my most likely purchase out of this line, though... and still not the first things on my big-ticket buy list. (That pretty much goes "PS3 - HDMI TV - VF-4 reissue" at the moment )

[M'Kyuun]

Well, thus far, we've only seen color variations of the same two valk designs. My hope is that there will be more valks, hopefully in different roles, such as bombers, ECS, or recon, to fill out the roster. Thinking practically, if we had variable mecha technology as a common staple in our current military, we would no doubt employ that tech across all roles/mission specific equipment types. I thought the Octos was a cool addition to Zero, but it got little attention, and no toy or models; but I liked that Kawamori-san was thinking in that direction, and included it as a non-aircraft variable mech. It's a logical extension of technology, and human nature, to apply what you know to various applications; I hope we see that demonstrated in Delta, as it would be extremely cool to have ground/water based variable mecha in addition to variable non-fighter mecha. I can only hope; there will never be enough Kawamori-designed variable mecha.

[dialNforNinja]

Well, it would be nice, but I wouldn't hold out much hope for more than 3-4 designs per series, discounting color and wing/head variations. There might be some cameos from craft that appeared in F, at least. As ever I hold out hope for a VF-4 on the screen and the reissue MIGHT hint at something in that direction even, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

I do wonder if there'll be another game to go with the new series... hopefully with more of the lineup from the PSP games that were omitted from M30 and at least instrumentals of the original music with the option to replace it en mass, again like the PSP games.

[M'Kyuun]

While it would be cool to see her flying proud in Delta, the VF-4 is vintage at this point in the timeline, and likely retired to the Macross equivalent of Davis-Monthan.

I wouldn't doubt that some form of the VF-25, or variant, will show up in Delta. But I still hold out hope for at least one or two additional new designs.

[Sildani]

Eh, they could always attach a VF-4 to a high school like they did a VF-1 in Frontier...

Or maybe a kid will be playing a VF sim with a Lightning III! Who knows?

[M'Kyuun]

Or an otaku character who has a whole collection of valks on a shelf...just a quick scene, but in there as a wink and a nod.

[Valkyrie Driver]

A static display VF-4 would be really cool...

[Tochiro]

Figure-0, Issue 215. Get hype. ＼(^o^)／

[seti88]

Figure-0, Issue 215. Get hype. ＼(^o^)／

image.jpeg

hype levels increasing until am seeing it in other places....Cmon delta start already! gogogo..

[IXTL]

I spy a gunpod.

[neoexcaliber]

I spy a gunpod.

And it reminds me of Mass Effect for some reason. It looks really cool.

[Kelsain]

Hmm, I wonder if the gunpod stows where the missile pod does on the 30.

Also, its wings seem to be doing something different back there.

[Kanedas Bike]

Cannot wait to see more pictures from Bandai, followed very closely by release and pricing information.

Already anticipating pre-order madness night once pre-orders open. / /

-b.

[Mommar]

Hmm, I wonder if the gunpod stows where the missile pod does on the 30.

Also, its wings seem to be doing something different back there.

No, we already saw pics with the cannons flipped out along the sides of the legs under the wings in Fighter mode.

[Raptor One]

No, we already saw pics with the cannons flipped out along the sides of the legs under the wings in Fighter mode.

The arm cannons are different from the gunpod

[no3Ljm]

Figure-0, Issue 215. Get hype. ＼(^o^)／

Based on this photo, in this mode, the wing backpack is not folded down. Meaning it's going to be more bulky looking in sideview. Hmmm.

[McFly!!]

Figure-0, Issue 215. Get hype. ＼(^o^)／

image.jpeg

HYPED! This is the issue hat comes with the vf-1s absolute chogokin too! Lucky!

[Dio]

Based on this photo, in this mode, the wing backpack is not folded down. Meaning it's going to be more bulky looking in sideview. Hmmm.

I failed to notice this before, but I am not a fan of the flat-fold wing transformations. Retraction (YF-29) or pivoting back on a swept-wing joint (most others) seems way more stylish to me. No VF-31 high speed mode I guess.

[charger69]

New Pics!

[Chronocidal]

Nice pics, but that still looks like the unfinished prototype we've seen already. Hard to tell for sure, but I don't see any gear doors yet, and that butt-ugly gap between the fuselage and the weapons pod still looks like ass.

[neoexcaliber]

They still haven't shown what the backpack does... or is it the gunpod?

[Xigfrid]

They just don't know how to display this weapon pod, so they hide it in battroid? Anyway, I feel I can wait until I get to watch a few TV episodes before grabbing one of these 31.

[seti88]

Whoa this version of the 31 suddenly grew on me after looking at the mag pics! Clean and fresh looking!

..and dat head antenna looks quite sophisticated...i hope it isnt just a black line drawn but are recessed panels within the antenna...

1. can anyone explain the parts where they highlighted the bottom/rear pictures where the pod is shown?

2. Does it say anywhere there would be a display base and transparent stand as per the pic included in the toy?

Edited December 22, 2015 by seti88

[Mommar]

With all of the tweaks Kawamori did to the 31, why not include a hinge on the wings to swing closed behind the back in Battroid instead of folding backward like all of the other 24 variants?

Maybe they're keeping the Gunpod functions a secret just like the other modes of the SVF-262?

Edited December 22, 2015 by Mommar

[Sildani]

He didn't want to?

Nice design. No gear doors that I can see either. Also: VF-31 Siegfried? Is that this Valkyrie's series name?

[Saburo]

Must have this now!

[Kanedas Bike]

Take. My. Money.

Really love the Battroid and Fighter modes on this bird. I also 'wish' the wings folded in Battroid mode but it's not a deal breaker for me by any means.

-b.