Graham

If I was Arcadia, I'd probably sue Bandai over the amount of gimmicks and design features directly copied.......hahahah

It would make more sense to pose it next to the Acadia rather than the old Yamato.

Ya' know it's weird, I love the Yamato 1/60 scale VF-19 series (Kai/S/F/P). I have 8 of them in total and have never had any problems with any of them. They all look great. lock together perfectly, still have tight joints, nothing's broken and none of them have loose ankes (although I'll admit I rarely put them in Gerwalk mode). And they are fun and easy to transform. The 19S and 19F are probably my all-time favorite Yamato toys in terms of design, appearance, quality and fun-factor, and in my opinion, the pinnacle of Yamato's design and engineering prowess. So in theory the Arcadia 1/60 YF-19 with it's Yamato VF-19 design heritage should have hit a home run. On paper at least it ticked all the right boxes in terms or proportions, design, gimmicks etc., but there is something about it that just leaves me cold and it has ended up my least touched and least handled VF toy. I'll admit the Arcadia 1/60 YF-19 has far better proportions than it's Yamato 1/60 YF-19 predecessor. However, in my opinion it just looks too plain with the minimal Tampo printing (I think I've been spoilt by Bandai). The ankles were very loose on one of mine out of the box (haven't even bothered to test the second one), the folding rudders were more of an annoyance than a fun gimmick and the high-speed mode on the wings was terribly implemented. In fighter mode, the wings won't hold a fully swept forward postion due to the loose high-speed wing joints. The problem is further exacerbated when you add missiles to the wings. Somehow, the Arcadia YF-19 at least for me managed to lose all its fun-factor. And for me at my age, and the current place I am in my life, fun-factor, ease of transformation etc., currently takes priority. In the Macross universe, I love the YF19/VF19A design, it's probably my second favorite VF design after the VF-17 (VF-1 is third in case anyone was wondering). I'm actually quite excited about the Bandai VF-19 Advance. The Bandai VF-19 Advance certainly looks better with all the Tampo printing. Although their gunpod is definitely worse (too narrow in the upper and lower handguard area). But overall the Bandai has me far more excited than I was with Arcadia's effort. Anyway, the proof of how fun and enjoyable this toy is will be in the handling when I finally get my hands on it . Graham

Hmm, as expected, 95% similar transformation to Arcadia, apart from a few extra panels, front landing gear and shield neck cover. Well after all there are only so many ways you can design a transforming YF-19. Anyway, looking forward to getting mine. Hopefully the wings in fighter mode won't be as froppy as the Arcadia version, which really annoys me. Graham

I'm the opposite, I love Macross II despite all its many flaws and adore the VF-2SS design, espcially with the SAP. Graham

My view........it's the first (and probably last) ever fricken transforming VF-2SS toy we'll get. As long as it locks together reasonably well in fighter and battroid mode, looks approximately like how it does in the anime (if I squint), then I'm sold. Evolution toys can shut up and take all my money. I've wanted this for so long. As long as it's not a total froppy mess, I'm way past the stage of nit picking.

MOAR PICS!

Yeah, surprised me too. I did want a VF-0D for many years, but kinda just lost interest somehow. Maybe I'll pick one up if they do the standard grey version. Graham

I have to say, I haven't been as excited about a Valk toy in a long, long time. I passed on the Ozma YF-29, the Percival, the VF-0D, the Arcadia VF-1J w/GBP, the greenie VF-27, the RVF-171 and the 171 girly markings version. Only recent Valk I've been mildly excited about and preordered is the VF-19 Advanced. However, I'm hugely excited about the VF-2SS. Really wanted someone to make a transforming toy of this for so long. Anyway, this thread needs some new pictures. Graham

I wanna see if there is still a big gap between the shield and legs in fighter mode, like in the earlier pics.

I think this would have been my ultimate toy if the ankle joints were tighter (they are far, far looser than all my many Yamato VF-19 toys) and with no high speed mode, which I really hate, as the wings don't hold fully forward swept position in fighter mode, especially loaded with missiles and tend to creep backwards.

This thread needs new pics!

Damn, saw a new post dated today and thought it might be new pics from the Shizuoka Hobby Show

Did anybody review this thing? I don't think I saw any reviews yet. Graham

As long as it locks together well, is not a froppy mess, and doesn't self-destruct ala the 171, I'll be happy just to finally get a transforming VF-2SS toy after 23 years of waiting. Even though the sculpt is not perfect. I'm not gonna nit pick too much.

checks in, still no pics of new Valks or new characters, checks out.

1) No ankle ball joints. 2) Cheaper MSRP. 3) More tampo printing. 4) Smaller boxes. 5) Standing pilot and crew figures.

Back in the day, I often purchased 3 or 4 or certain models, so that I could display one in each mode and have one as a spare in case of any breakage. I've stopped buying multiples for quite a while and now I'm only buying singles and only of ones I really liked. I've even stopped buying every release like I used to, I skipped the RVF-171, Arcasia VF-19Kai, the Percival and the VF-0D. The only coming release that might tempt me to by two is the VF-2SS. Graham

Shouldn't the thread title be changed, as it's kinda way past January.......LOL

Saw it yesterday with my son. Thought it was OK, but not as good as the first Avengers movie. Much darker and kinda depressing in places. Don't think I'll watch it again at the cinema, but I'll probably end up buying the Blu-ray. Out of recent Marvel movies, I enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy and Winter Soldier more. Graham

I got the same delayed until June notice from CD Japan as well.

I threw out all 4 of my 171 in disgust about 6 months ago (2 x CF & 2 x Alto).

Now there's a name I've not heard in a long while. Heh, and I think I wrote the text for that flyer, apart from the copyright notice. IIRC, the best friend of Yamato's CEO was going to be put in charge of Sunwards. Graham

Yeah, first movie was fresh and fun. The sequels, I literally can't sit throgh them withough nodding off. Happens everytime I try, i'm soon.....zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

As we are getting close to the release date, I'm hoping Bandai will release some new publicity photos soon of the final production item. Graham