Shaggydog

I don't get this 'cutting slack' business. 12 pages of nonstop bitching, not even counting the many pages in the previous thread. I think the Yamato partisans are feeling a little sorry for themselves. That said, I would agree that the appearance of Yamato's toys is held to an insane, ridiculous standard around here - not by me, though. Isn't it the same group of obsessives that attack both companies with absurdly nitpicky 'accuracy' issues? Of course, Yamato invites it in a sense - their main selling point is 'accuracy' (it sure as hell ain't 'play value', not for the transforming toys, at least). So, Yamato has to sleep in the bed they made. Still, I think all of Yamato's toys have been fantastic looking by my standards, I honestly can't think of an ugly toy they've made. Even the much-maligned v1 1/60 vf-1 was pretty, to me.

That the DX toy isn't perfectly anime accurate, and that it doesn't perfectly match the lineart, is indeed NOT subjective. Neither does the model kit, nor any other transforming toy that's ever been made, to my knowledge. It's probably also not subjective to say that the model kit comes closer to lineart accuracy than the DX toy does. HOWEVER, whether the DX toy captures the 'spirit' of the valk - YES, that is subjective. I believe that it does. You don't. See? subjective.

The thing is, if we concede that Bandai doesn't have to achieve perfect anime-accuracy (which is a reasonable concession, given that the VF-25 looks significantly different in different scenes, CGI notwithstanding), then the aesthetic standard is simply that the toy 'look cool' while still recognizably representing the VF-25. Looking cool is a subjective standard, as is proper for any toy. To me, I think this toy succeeds brilliantly in that department. I'm not quite willing to say that the toy will be sturdy and toylike yet, though - only handling will give us the truth of that. Bandai is good at making sturdy toys, but they don't always choose to do so.

Many Japanese toy fans in this country want to play with this toy, too. That's why we buy 'toys' and not 'model kits'. Diecast content is something that's highly desired by many Japanese toy fans as well, as it lends heft to a toy. Thus the 'Soul of Chogokin', 'Brave Gohkin', 'Shin Seiki Gokin', and many other diecast robot toys that are sold to collectors. In fact, this DX VF-25 toy is being sold in the 'Chogokin' line.

I've said it before: what MW folks really want are model kits, preassembled. That said, I've had no issues with the 1/60 vf-1s w/o FP.

True, the Scopedog had some problems holding poses, but I don't think it had many breakage problems. At least, none I'm aware of. The later releases included joint-locks, but also the ankle joints themselves were tighter (at least on mine).

I hear ya, drif, but I have to say that Yamato's been a LOT more successful with their non-transforming toys than with the transforming ones. The Yamato Giant Robo, Scopedog, destroid Tomahawk, Q-Rau, etc. are all freaking great toys (not without flaws, but not prone to breakage either). I wish Yamato would do the toy world a favor and stick to nontransforming toys, frankly, since they do such an awesome job of it. I expect the Ingram will be fantastic (damn pricey though, no question about that).

After the VF-25S, the next releases in the DX line will be the RVF-25 and the VF-25G, which they're claiming for March of next year. No official announcement of Macross Quarter and no date has been given; although (unless the DX line dies prematurely) there's a 'good chance' they'll make one if they're showing that picture. The new pix look awesome to me, thanks!

uh.. there's no new news here, right? Graham kindly copied over the old pix, and everyone else is copying over their old complaints. Guys, we remember that you hate it. Seriously. Wait til the next round of pictures to start the next round of bitching, please.

Huh. I have two of em, never had a problem. But if you're looking for someone who says Bandai never puts out a lemon, don't look at me. In fact, I've explicitly said the exact opposite. http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s=&a...st&p=635627 I'm not sure if breakage was widespread with that toy. Yours is the first report I recall seeing, but it's been a while since that came out.

But we already have an awesome turn-A toy. http://www.tisinc99.com/newmatmodtur.html Ok, it tends to shed some small parts. Still a must-buy.

Thanks for the info, David. If they show the quarter in the background, it's definitely intentional. Bandai loves to pull that kind of stuff. I tend to agree that I'd rather see VF-171 than the quarter, but it's just good news that this line is continuing. I was fearful it would die quickly, given how long it took to come out.

Are people really seeing the macross quarter in the background of the 'and next..' sign? I've stared and stared, and I just don't see it... just looks like random robot parts. Maybe I'm blind.

It may be that Bandai doesn't go for a model-like appearance because they actually sell a model kit. .. which I guess brings up a question I honestly have for the folks who want it more model-like. Why don't you just build the model kits, when there are good ones (as there obviously are in this case)? Most of us toy collectors prefer toys to kits because we like the solidity and fun of a toy. If you don't care about 'play value', and 'accurate' appearance is your No. 1 priority, it seems like building model kits would be the way to go. Modern kits (like MGs) really aren't hard to build at all.

I agree with Mechamaniac. But oh well, it's in a geek's nature to bitch, I guess. Graham: you can fix a broken arm, but you can't fix the fear brought on by hearing reports of breakage Hell, sometimes you can't even fix the broken arm properly Anyways, the super parts will be sold via Tamashii web, but they shouldn't be too hard to come by. I think it's still uncertain whether the rvf-25 and the vf-25g will be sold with super parts. The prototypes are wearing super parts, but the little card doesn't seem to specify one way or the other. (I suspect they will)

I like the review, but I really disagree with the implication that your money may be better spent on the 1/60 vf-1 ver 2. That's a nice toy, but it's really not any nicer than the 1/48 vf-1's - sure, it has better articulation, but it's significantly smaller. If you already have a 1/48 valk toy, I'd HIGHLY recommend grabbing the destroid. By far, this is the best toy that's been made of the Tomahawk. Awesome details, very very sturdy, well articulated, and just fantastically put together. You MWers don't know a great toy when it bites you in the ass. Of course, if you don't own any 1/48 valks, you should certainly buy the 1/60 vf-1 ver 2.

My GOD, the tomahawk is a fricking AWESOME toy. This just shows what Yamato is capable of when they get their crap in order. Great details, great joints, sturdy, wonderful. The new 1/60 valks are kinda 'meh' after playing with em (only exciting thing is that they can take the classic relaxed pose with the gun pointing up) but the tomahawk is pure love. Glad to see they're making more...

I'll repeat the question that was ignored in the other thread: that picture shows a blue vf-25g and a green rvf-25. The text suggests that they will be made in the DX line. Did we already know about this? Also, the text comments that the DX toy will have to live up to the Chogokin name (in terms of sturdiness, etc.). So it looks like Bandai is shooting for a 'toy' rather than a 'display model' here, which is good for me, but probably not for most MWers.

uh.. does that last page indicate there'll be a DX 1/60 VF-25G and RVF-25? Did we already know about those?

I think it's fair to say that no other toy company does 'miniature' better than Bandai.. check out their 'High complete model progressive' gundams, which are almost miraculous in their precision and detail. (I'm not a fan of tiny toys, I prefer big, myself.) There's no question that Bandai *could* make all these VF100 toys perfectly-transforming. However, that would raise the price, and would probably eliminate some of the more exotic entries, like VF-4.. even Bandai is less likely to risk making a high-priced toy of an obscure design, since not many people will buy it. (Although Bandai does sometimes take that risk.. witness the metal FIX zetaplus that they're developing.) I realize that if perfectly-transforming is your *thing*, no excuse will satisfy you (I have some toy hangups myself, so I can definitely sympathize). However, for me, if they manage to make these parts-formers fairly sturdy and stable in each mode (and that's a big *if*) I'm willing to sacrifice perfect transformation in order to get some oddball designs made into toys.

Before transforming it, you should know it was designed and built back in the days when folks could safely transform toys without consulting BBS's first.

This isn't a robot or a mech, it's a dude wearing powered armor. The cloth represents his clothes. I'm not sure about you low budget filipino guys, but my clothes are mostly cloth.

I almost never agree with drifand (I think our tastes are quite different), but I agree completely on this. I can't see any good reason that I should buy the Wave toy - not really good looking or innovative or anything. The Yamato, on the other hand, impresses me more every time I see it. BTW, the Wave is now up for preorder on HLJ, for those who disagree with me.

I'm a BIG believer in Bandai, but I think it's impossible to disagree with the 'wait and see' approach. Every company, including Bandai, has made crappy toys at one time or another. I personally think Bandai will nail it the first time, and the pix look great to me (I neither subscribe to nor fully understand the concepts of 'anime accuracy' or 'aggressive design' as they seem to be used around here, I think they're just elaborate ways of justifying personal taste, which is something that should not need justification). I've got them both preordered already. But anyone who waits til the reviews are out before buying a $100+ toy is just smart, simple as that. Hats off to ya.

I think perhaps it is you who should try again, my friend. The quote he provided is clearly from the part of the video where the Toynami rep is gushing about the new Tread heads. (as for the actual topic.. I'm a little undecided on those new heads, not sure if I like them or not. I guess it's probably smart for them to try to find a way to distinguish themselves from the CM's product. If *I* were running toynami, I would have canceled the Tread and made Inbit toys instead. But that's me)