Vifam7

Count me as one who was disappointed with Toynami's offering. Bandai can do a much MUCH better job IMHO. Bandai's product quality image would take a serious hit if it were to take Toynami's product. I'd like to think Bandai is smarter than that.

Considering the price, it should be near SuperHCM quality.

The GA article lists what will be the swapping parts. 1. the head 2. the shoulder-joint area 3. the crotch area block 4. the rear fins (Not too bad IMHO) The general transformation system itself (the folding areas and whatnot) is unchanged.

Is Bandai revamping the Kahen Senshi Zeta Gundam? I hope so. The old Kahen Senshi Zeta didn't look so good in wave rider form. More SPEC metal armors! Yeah!

I don't mind parts swapping. If it means a better sculpt and solidity I'm all for it. Those 2 attributes are far more important to me than perfect transformation ability.

In a way you really DON'T want such stripes to be separate color molded parts. For one thing that would mean seam lines, making it look more like a 'part' than a painted on marking. For those adverse to all out paint jobs, you could probably get away with decals or painting just those stripes with G-marker. That's what I often do with gunpla: snap together ->paint only the sections that need paint->panel line->done!

That's exactly what it is. Keeping in mind that this rapid prototype model does not transform. According to the blurb, that prototype was used as the base to work from.

From what I've read so far, it will have double jointed knees.

I like the idea of this kit. A snap-fit easy build VF-1. Perfect for those who have no time, skills, and/or patience to complete a Hase kit. Hopefully the price will reflect the simplicity of these kits. Has Wave ever released something cheap? Oh, I like the scale. Will go nicely with upcoming Bandai VF-25 and Alter's Yukikaze on my shelves. Also, it'll be interesting to compare the sculpts - Toynami's VF-1 vs. old Arii VF-1 vs. Wave VF-1

1/55 Bandai Valks are built solid. The transformation system is pretty basic and intuitive so I doubt you'd have any difficulty or issues to contend with. The kitty in the photo is awesome.

Lookin' good! Though obviously this is a rush job build by an amateur. Article does say that they intend to show one built by a pro in next month's issue.

Dunno. I've heard that some of the more recent MG Gundam kits are polycap-less as well. From what I've read it seems like Bandai is using a new way to connect joints/etc. using ABS plastic. Supposedly this is beneficial for thinner and smaller size mechs whose bodies won't permit polycaps use without making compromises to the sculpt. It also supposedly allows for more strength and more movement. On the other hand, there's been some complaints about the joints getting loose over time.

I can barely make it out but the text seems to say that the kit is pre-colored, snap-fit, and polycap-less.

Just another government agency screwing things up, wasting our money, and creating headaches. So what else is new?

The blurbs mentions repaint and masking so, it looks like it's custom job. It may have been done to illustrate how modifiable the GNUs are.

I use the standard Testors/ModelMaster glue found at local hobby stores. Although I've never built a Hasgawa kit, they're workng just fine for me on Gunpla and the old Imai/Arii/Bandai Macross kits.

Yes, a serious modeler would no doubt want Hasegawa kits. However, I'm a weekend no-skills modeler and I kinda appreciate the old-school kits that are a bit more easier/forgiving to build and cheap (which is important when screwing up is good possibility)

It's just mistransformed. Details written in magazines and websites state that the knees will fully rotate forward and the legs will spread outwards.

Maybe Kawamori decided to make a few new changes? [shrug] They say he's supervising the models so make what you will of that. [shrug]

One thing to keep in mind is that Kawamori himself is supervising the designs on both the DX 1/60 and this 1/72 kit.　So if we have a complaint on the sculpt, I suppose some fault will fall on him for checking off on the final product. That or he has the final say on how his works should look like (which I suppose can differ between lineart, anime, and toy)

Fighter mode looks fine to me. A bit muscular looking but then real life Tomcats look that way too (IMHO). The gerwalk mode is not properly posed with knees forward and legs splayed out.

Missed some details. Added them in.

Just in case it hasn't been reported yet, Hobby Search lists some details that the kit will supposedly have. 1. Interior detail in the leg engines and cockpit 2. Perfect transformation to all 3 modes 3. Folding wings and use of a metal shaft to strengthen the transforming forward fuselage area 4. The forward fuselage's folding hinge (double jointed) will be interior hidden when in fighter mode. 5. The hips rotate in battroid mode 6. The knees will move forward and legs will splay outward for gerwalk mode 7. Landing gears and joint for use with Action Base 1 included 8. Gunpod and knife included as armament 9. Knife can be stored in the shield, canopy will be clear, 1/72 scale pilot figure included 10. Optional hands included - weapon holding hands, open hands, and dummy hands for transformed mode 11. Water slide decals and tetron? stickers included for detailing

I believe it's already been advertised as not being perfect transformation. Instead it was advertised as "simple transformation". Dunno what that means in the end, but I would imagine a few parts swapping. I agree with you on the use of PVC. But I can deal with it as long as it's not used in the wings or tailfins. I wish Yamato would consider a lineup of 1/100 scale Valks (at this scale I'd accept non-transforming models).

Darn. I want a MG Murasame!