Isamu Dyson

Sorry mr.chogokin, I didn't mean any ill feelings and I totally respect your opinions. I phrased it wrong and only meant it in light humor. Also yeah, I totally understand you and every one's frustration with broken valks. Yamato is very good at fixing problems or if you live in Japan they offer replacement parts. However I just feel that it keeps happening too often. For a $200 or $300 dollar toy I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for a durable product. It's like buying a BMW made with Hyundai parts. Seriously the Management team at Yamato should put signs in front of the washroom stalls stating "PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN A CURE". Hey in the Samsung washrooms they have pictures of 9-11 to remind their staff that disasters can happen anytime if your not on top of your game. okay happy thoughts now

Second that.... List of 1/60s with common "exploding" QC problems. VF-1s VT-1s VE-1s VF-0s recently...tada YF-19s Seriously - 1 mistake is understandable, 2 of the same mistake is not so acceptable, 3 or the same mistake is unacceptable. Yamato's made 5 and still counting with the VF-19 on a pending status. Take as long as it takes Yamato but please no more exploding toys! Getting a little tired of a new toy with the same old problems.

In a business stand point it is a great idea to make money. In a moral stand point it is a horrible idea. I really hope no one from Yamato or Bandai catches wind of your proposal. That would mean every single new valk would come with some self destructive part for the purpose of generating more money. Let's not promote the fact that we are willing to pay the big companies more money to fix something that shouldn't have to be fixed in the first place. With the news of the YF-19 exploding along with the VF-0s, VF-1s and the VTs,....hmmmm I think you may be on to something.... Is it a coincidence but all those valks listed above have a history of exploding shoulders or arms? It's like Apple developing the Iphones made of glass. More prone to cracks thus increasing the likely hood of another purchase. If that's the case - Yamato should give a raise to the marketing and development team. Me? I would fire every one in the quality assurance department.

nightmareB4macross's pricing sounds pretty spot on, however for me I wouldn't dish out 200 for any valks that is loose and stickers applied. It probably would be wise to start low $1.00 and hope for a bidding war. Just make sure to instigate the war by spreading the news ae_productions - Wow - very thorough and perceptive advice on ebay selling tactics. Just one quesion - why no weekends/holidays or after work hours? Since there is a higher chance some one is at home or free from work to bid. Is it to prevent last minute snipers bidding for the lowest amount without giving time for another bid? Arthurius - I would suggest aiming high first before going through ebay. Going through ebay doesn't necessarily mean you will make a lot for them. On the contrary you could get less than your asking price depending on where the leaves fall. Figure out a comfortable price your willing to part your collection and try these 3 steps: 1. Craigslist - Nothing easier than saving shipping and getting straight up cash. The buyer can inspect and you get paid immediately. Best of all - Final Sale. 2. Macross World Sale Thread - Nothing better then to allow your mates first dibs with your asking price. Aim high yourself but reasonable in the eyes of your peers. Also note if no one is interested in XXX amount of days you will post on ebay. 3. Ebay - If you've reached this far at least you've already instigated a potential war assuming you let every one knows it's going for starting low here in MW. More work through ebay but at least you went through 2 easier steps before hand. Let the gods decide the cost of your valks. Hope that helps Cheers Haru

Same as arrow - once to inspect and admire then back to fighter for display. However too scared to transform my YF-29 and VF-19 since 300 dollars make them an intimidating display items to toy around with. Renato - If your reading, just curious how many times you transform yours before spotting some QC issue? ErikElvis - Fascinating how you transform your valks about once however with the 1/72 YF-19 it's about five times. Brave man - espcially if it is a version 1.

I've transformed once and displayed in battroid for a couple of years and everything seems intact. Weird how if you leave grey plastic alone in a climate controlled environemnt it would just crumble? Graham, by any chance when you mentioned that it crumbled did you see any small specks or small little plastic pieces dropping as well? If so then I would assume crappy plastic by Yamato in which you should follow up on them about that. Transforming and breaking is one thing. Displaying and breaking now that's a new thing. However just by looking at your pics and seeing no smaller parts along with it - It looks like a twist or snap, any glue residue? Seriously, one time my VF-19 looked a little different, nose cone was slightly not connected and wing was misaligned. I can already tell it dropped and my girl friend was the only one who was in that room. After a little interrogating i got the truth out. If it was a severely damaged I wouldn't be surprised if she would use superglue. Just a thought but sounds more logical than sudden self destructing plastic.

Also PM'ed for 1 pair of cream hinges. As far as the count goes I think Graham should have 4 pairs left. For any one else in interested and not sure - they are going fast now and I think it's best to request for them now as I think Graham would love to finish it off and be done with it. I can imagine the poor guy reading PMs for hinges, confirming the orders, packing and licking the envelopes, and going off to the mail box on several occasions not making a dime but doing it out of love. This trooper needs a medal and sent off home from the hinges,...ahem trenches.

Perhaps he meant it as a joke.

Let's not forget that compared to the 1/72 - the 1/60 is a "world of a difference" better and deserving in terms of display and engineering. Yeah it may not be the best transforming or lack of a locking toy but I'm still pretty happy with it in comparison to that old chunky funky thingamagig. Is the current 1/60 perfect? No but it's pretty close and it could have been worse.

That would be a tough question to ask since many people on this board wouldn't easily put a price to sell any of their valks unless they were in desperate times. Check out the "Macross Toys holding Value" thread. Perhaps the better question is how much are you willing to pay for a VF-1S Strike Pack +. For me I would fork out about 200 depending on the condition and more importantly whom am I buying from. Reputation is key when your dealing with a high priced transaction. If your looking to maximize profit from it - I suggest ebay given your neutral reputation with a buy it now price on how much you are willing to part with it. If there still isn't a buyer then go for a 1.00 start bid and let us know. You'll be surprised on how much you'll make for it if a bidding war starts. However I can't picture it going over 300 unless it is a highroller MWer. Hope that helps~~~

Thanks Rabidweezil. Yeah most likely I'll do that. I'm just sorry I could'nt help you out in just getting one step closer to finishing your collection. I'm a little surprised with 4 boxes I didn't even come up with 1 ranka special. Bandai really knows how to rake it in with the collectors. To Horatio - I can now confirm that spending $75.00 for 1 - YF-19 is better than shelling out $200.00 =(

Sigh~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!! 4 boxes and just 1 YF-19. Jenius - So sorry but we opened all the boxes. If you have some sort of contact in China who is willing to purchase for you and ship to you - I can send you the url where my GF got it. It's kind of a craigslist/ebay in China. Rabidweezil - So sorry but I also came nil for your Ranka. I've seen it for sale in yahoo auction japan store - 1 for about 5000 yen and another for a ridiculous price of 20000 yen. My story: GF anxiously opens the first box in China and the very first package is a YF-19. Awesome I thought to myself. So the likely hood of 1 more in 3 should be pretty good right? Boy was I wrong. She brings me back the other 3 boxes and as we took turns opening them we got a couple of surprises - 1 YF-21, cool I could display that. Suddenly another box another YF-21 and then finally the last box another YF-21. Can you say close call but no cigar. "F" i thought to myself - $200 smacks for 1 YF-19. I was also keeping in mind about 2 members as we were opening them. I was hoping to get 1 before having to attack the last box for jenius. I was also looking not just for the YF-19 but the Secret Ranka for Rabidweezil. All in all I should be happy I got one at least but it didn't come cheap. Seriously aside from the secret chases I think the YF-19 has gotta be the hardest thing to get in any series of the the Fighter Collection. I rarely see it on yahoo auctions japan and I've never seen it on ebay. The Tornado was probably the second nicest find. In conclusion for my experience - 4 boxes "should" be good enough to at least complete the general series excluding the secret chase (extreme total luck I presume). As for any one else thinking about hunting a YF-19 by boxes like me - Forget it - prepare to either bask in glory with hands up high or knees on the ground saying Why and F. Here is the list of what I got in 4 boxes: VF-2SS: 4 VF-27B: 4 VF-27Y: 2 VF-25A: 4 RVF-25: 2 YF-25: 2 VF-0S: 2 VF-25S: 3 VF-25FT:1 VF-1S: 3 VF-1AA: 2 VF-1A: 3 VF-1AHi:1 VF-1AMx:2 VF-1AKz:2 VF-22S: 3 YF-21: 4 YF-19D: 3 YF-19: 1 Anyone who has an extra YF-19 please PM for possible trade or sale option. To anyone who has a complete set of series 1 to 4 including chases - hats off to you In a week's time if I don't have any cards to play with for a YF-19 - I'll be posting them for sale in MW. Cheers!

Props to your collection and 7 boxes sounds just about right per series. Next post I will share my experience with 4 boxes. Also thanks for taking the time to take a picture - it really helps to verify each piece with a body of index.

Hey Rabidweezil Just curious but isn't the Ranka one your looking for supposed to have a transparent blue stand? I'll double check with her cuz that's what I told her to look out for and make sure not to open the bag or crush it

Yes!!! Got a call from girlfriend in China - First box - First package - YF-19. She's got some lucky hand. Unfortunately no Ranka Special in that box. She will hold off on opening the other 3 so that I may get a chance to get into it. Horatio Positronic: I have a picture of someone on this board who looks like he/she has the whole collection - please confirm. I'm sorry I don't know who to give credit to but awesome dedication and I wonder how many boxes had to be opened for it.

Most of us are already in our 30s or 40s the 1st gen who grew up with the original series. 2nd gen probably would be the ones who just got in from Macross Frontier. So let's look at your investment this way: 1st gen gets the bullet + collection = Possible trade option for a video game 2nd gen gets the plunge + collection = Same value as a Barbie on a Toys R US shelf in the Discount Section...at best! Most of us collect for personal value rather than as an investment. Look at comic books for example - People still collect as an investment thinking one of them will be the next Detective Comics #4. Rarely will any comic in this day and age rise like Batman or Spiderman. I really don't want to say this but once Kawamori-san goes so will Macross. Tlll then, Most of us will have a cup of earl grey in the heavens boasting or knocking each other on how much we paid for our collection after seeing our grandsons break off a shoulder or a tab B.

Alrighty - 3 votes for 2 boxes and 3 votes for 5+, I think I'm going to play it safe and get 4 boxes. Thank you all for your insights - if any one has any more stories about these guys please let me know. Rabidweezil - I'll be on a lookout for the Ranka to help complete your collection Jenius - Hopefully it won't come down to me opening the last box. Whatever is left over I will contact you. As for all the other singles I'll most likely post them in the for sale section at the end of this month. Cheers

MaveRick & Kicker773 w( - - )w m (_ _) m w( - - )w m (_ _) m

Mainland China my friend. There is more of a demand in HK so things get snagged up quickly there but not so much in China. There is no store in Shanghai surprisingly that carries a decent, if any amount of Macross stuff however there is a few that offers online shopping for them. Some one is fishing off the Yamato and Bandai factories over there. So it doesn't surprise me when I came across the posting for Collection 2. Interesting Story: An owner of a Japanese Toy Store here in Vancouver mentioned to me about how difficult it is to supply Macross 1/60s toy line due to competitive prices offered online - specifically HK which gets them from China. So if anyone want a Yamato cheap go buy from HK. If you want them cheaper get it from China. I saw a couple of VT-1s, VF-1D and double nuts for about $120US each.

Hi Jenius. My goal is to get 2 YF-19s. For budget reasons and perhaps luggage space issues I can only get 4 boxes - maximum. If by some flook of a chance I happen to get 2 YF-19s before having to open another box - You'll be the first in line to get it. I assume you would want a complete whole box no sealed singles if it comes down to the last box? Also by any chance do you know the approximate size and dimension for a complete box? My GF may actually break down and draw for me to save her luggage space so you may need to reply back to me what exactly you are looking for. Cheers

No problem...Not looking to collect them just want the YF-19 maybe the YF-21 too. All the other rare ones I couldn't care less. So if I happen to get that Ranka one - I'll definitely PM you. Anything YF-19 or Macross Plus related items your willing to trade? Thank you for taking the time to do the math for me. Yes - numbers add up and a pretty decent percent chance for me to get one assuming there are no duplicates in one box. When I get them I'll definitely put your numbers to the test and report back what I got for each box to confirm.

Oh man that's exactly what I'm afraid of. "I only got one reply and they wanted $75 US (which I'm not proud to admit I paid)." That is totally understandable after opening 3 boxes and coming out nada.

Yes Please - Only if... 1. Double check the spelling for tampo prints and decal stickers 2. Properly proportioned Isamu Dyson pilot figure matching the VF-11B 3. Fast Pack included please. Don't need another Fold Booster and don't want to pay 100 bucks for 4 small parts. 4. A tad longer wings please. Is it just me or are the wings properly sized for version 2? 4. Yamato can figure out the removable intake cover problem - Still bugs me to read that Yamato figured the VF-19 was shown more often as a battroid in the anime thus sacrificing the removable intake covers due to engineering problems. "Nothing is impossible just improbable" Sounds to me they got stuck and just compromised instead of improvised. I'm not hating and I totally admit there was a lot of love put to the VF-19, just this one thing made it from being totally perfect for me. Luckily it wasn't a YF-19 and hopefully Yamato will figure something out for a Version 3 if it happens. Funny thing is with all my whining and complaining I still have a feeling I'll buy one no matter what. I also think some of us who says "No" will end up getting one anyways once a prototype picture comes out. Till that day...who can honestly resist???

I totally agree with Alchemo's points. Climate control is best and stored preferably in a dark area such as a closet or in this case a walk in closet if you have one. Also purchase large plastic bins to store them. If you store them in normal cardboard boxes in a span of 5-10 years they may deteriorate the Yamato boxes too due to some acidic issue with aging cardboards. I don't know the specific scientic reasoning but I remember my comic collecting days with this issue from the cardboard backings. I had to purchase acidic free comic cardboard backings to prevent damage to my comics. In terms of climate control - If you are comfortable so will your yammies. If you will freeze or sweat to death so shall your yammies. Call or Fold - up to you my friend. Cheers