ultraman zoffy

maybe... but if yamato had the license they would cost 300 dollars anyways and we'd only get 2 a year.

Truth.

It seems like a lot of this pre-order drama is happening because of the YF-29 debacle, but was there ever even a new production run of that toy? Or did Bandai just sell off units from the original launch that retailers interpreted as a whole new manufacturing run to take pre-orders for? I mean, they missed the pre-order numbers SO badly that it seems like they just had a few YF-29's laying around from the initial run and never actually fired up a new round of manufacturing... just asking because hopefully with the 171EX and the 25G being whole new toys (well, one new and one repaint with a new head), maybe they're more likely to be able to fill everything since a fresh manufacturing run has to go down.

Positive seller vibes for Chowser... bought some VF-1S parts off him with no drama at all. I can now ghetto rig a DYRL Max VF-1A into a 1S... lol

To some people, myself included, sticking to their principles is worth more then their time.

Again, good luck... hope it works out. Principles or not, I think we're all in the same boat due to Bandai's shortsightedness.

For me it's not about a few bucks but the fact that I'm doing business with a reputable store that will almost guarantee that I get one.

Can any store, reputable or not, actually guarantee that though? If the problem is with Bandai's supply chain, then it's going to be a gamble anywhere you go. In any case, good luck.

Anyone heard from Southpaw lately??

To all you crazy folks pulling all nighters trying to get a pre order... I wouldn't join you, but I sure do salute you. lol... hope your efforts to save a few bucks pays off.

Nice pics, chris... as much as these valks are setting me back, the only extra parts I'm buying for any of them are the 25F super parts and the 25S armored parts... everyone else is gonna be chilling in the armorless buff. The SMS military budget is officially cut, troops. lol

Well, the problem with the version one flexi stand was the black stoppers degraded over time leaving unsightly black marks on the toys. The problem with the version two flexi stand was that the plastic on the clear tips had a chemical reaction with the paint on some yamato valks. You had MWer's telling horror stories of the paint on some 1/48 Low Viz being damaged due to this flaw. I can't find the original post I suspect because of the recent website overhaul. Someone back me up on this..

After checking my stands, I think the paint rub issue with the flexi stands would likely have been because the 1/48's were so damn heavy... none of my 1/60 toys are putting that much pressure on the stands, so I don't think it'll be an issue. I never concern myself with resale value on my toys; as long as there's no breakage or a deep scratch, I'm content.

You might want to consider displaying your valuable VF-25s on something other than the flexi display. This is of course unless I am way behind the times and the maker of flexi stands corrected this flaw.

Dang, thanks for the heads up m.d.! For some reason I think maybe it might've been the older stands that did that, but I'll earthquake putty the tips of the VF-25S' stand just in case.

Ultraman we demand pics of your collection!!

I posted a couple of pics in the macross collection display thread a while back, so check that thread out to see part of what I have. I'm all across the board with the toys I buy though; definitely not macross exclusive like some of the other folks on MW. My detolf setup changes each time I buy a "high end" piece, and right now, I'm scratching my head trying to figure out what to do once a 171, 25G, YF-29, and future RVF-25 show up. I think I'm finally screwed for Macross space and will likely have to put all the Frontier valks into battroid to fit them into their section.

Are retailers really flying completely blind when it comes to pre-orders? I find it hard to believe that they have absolutely no access at all to Bandai and some sort of estimate (even a rough one) of how many the company is looking to produce.

For comparison and shits/giggles sake, so far, since I started collecting Frontier renewals about 2 months ago, my scoreboard is at:

VF-25F = $260 shipped (MW Forum)

VF-25S = $275 shipped (From Japan auction)

YF-29 = $270 shipped (Nippon Yasan)

VF-171EX preorder = $260 shipped (ebay)

VF-25G preorder = $226 shipped (Nippon Yasan)

... ugh. Yeah, slightly painful... but once again, all part of the deep pockets collecting game I suppose. Please announce the RVF Renewal Bandai so I can go back to a nice blank WTB list...

** On the brighter side, just picked up this sexy bird from the post office today. Funny how the arrival of things you buy soothes the pain...

It's usually available somewhere, the question is where?

Nippon Yasan... just bought one.

Problem is it gets worse once they are out....ie..the 25s and f, 29, and 171. Or the horrible scalper eBay prices too. That's why I figured this price was doable, like I said not really great but not horrible either. Still cheaper than a Yamato too.

Chris

This is the truth right here... bleed a little now, or full on exsanguinate later.

No one ever said collecting was an affordable hobby... every purchase I've made since I started has been a gamble. Can't get the "perfect" deal all the time, peeps.

Was an MSRP for the 25G even announced yet? Seriously, given all the drama and scarcity surrounding Bandai's Frontier line, I look at anything under $300 shipped as being reasonable... lol.

Punching myself; caved and bought the in-stock Durandal from Nippon Yasan. Couldn't resist the thought of the blue 25G and the red YF-29 standing next to my blue and red M&M 1/60's...

I bit the bullet and pre-ordered there as well. You guys have been saying they are a reputable place and $236 shipped registered airmail is not that bad...not great but not the worst either! And at least I don't have to prepay. If I can get at HLJ then all the better! if not, then I should have one secured.

Chris

That's exactly it... everyone seems to get up in arms when they can't grab things at MSRP and miss out, but I'm content with the price just being reasonable if I can get one locked in. Nippon Yasan has come through for me before and they don't charge in advance. Win win in my book.

Nippon Yasan hooked up my 25Fsuper parts order perfectly, so I'm pretty confident in them to follow through on my 25G pre-order (as well as my 25F&S armor parts orders). 25S just arrived today from Japan, 171EX pre-order is in, and the YF-29 isn't on my radar, so I'll be kicking back and sitting out the drama until an RVF pre-order announcement drops. =)

Unemployment sales, divorce sales... there's some hard times going on in the MW forum right now. Good luck with the sales, Chowser.

I had to give my VF-0S/Ghost Booster valk the chiropractor/super glue/earthquake putty treatment to make it solid enough to handle; sucks to have to put so much effort into a toy, but ultimately it ended up being one of my favorite valks in my case... I'd maybe pick up a VF-0A/Booster set, but I'd DEFINITELY pick up an Ivanov SV-51 reissue...

Just a heads up for anyone that missed out on pre-ordering a 171... IF everything goes as planned and I receive the VF-171 that I pre-ordered from ebay, I'm going to be putting it up for sale as soon as it arrives for exactly what I paid for it ($260 shipped); I paid in advance for it, but I've decided to hunt down a 25S instead. Hit me up and I'll put a hold on it for you once it arrives; will expect payment only when I have it in hand and ready to ship to you (since apparently Bandai isn't reliably filling their pre-orders these days), otherwise no obligation if the pre-order falls through.

*BTW, anyone else pay in advance for their pre-order? I'm actually worried now seeing what's going on with the YF-29 pre-orders, and if the seller I went through doesn't ship in the time frame he stated ("within 4 days of official release date"), I'm planning to hit up ebay customer support to pull the plug on the transaction... thanks Bandai. lol

I mean.. I love what they've done with the VF-25 renewal, but actually transforming them just isn't fun for me. I actually do enjoy transforming my Yamatos every once in a while, but with Bandai's stuff, I'm constantly paranoid that I'm going to break something, or scratch off paint, or whatever else can go wrong. Might be due to the more complicated transformation with the VF-25, but the way all the parts hang off each other going to battroid just feels like it's asking to break apart.

I just recently transformed my 25F from gerwalk to battroid for the first time (w/ the super parts on), and I'd have to agree: it was not a fun experience. Crap flying off left and right, having to strong arm the chest, shoulder, and "backpack" pieces into proper position while dealing with the neck plate and worrying about breaking or tweaking stuff... after I was finally finished, I grabbed one of my 1/60 Yamato's and messed with it for a while as a palette cleanser. lol Bandai renewal 25's have officially joined my 1/48 Stealth valk in the "high frustration handling" category of my collection.

I don't stress nearly as much about the paint on these toys as I do about all the ball joints loosening up eventually... anyone ever post tips on tightening up the VF-25 joints? Particularly the feet and shoulders.

PM'd

Agree with Mommar... reissuing the DYRL valks without any corresponding super/strike parts reissue doesn't make much sense.

Thanks for the heads up, got a preorder in. Man, BBTS is going to get a chunk of change from me over the next month. Got both the YF-29 and VF-171 ordered with them.

Haha... that was actually my pre-order for the YF-29. I just dropped it last night. Decided I'd prefer to wait for an opportunity to pick up a VF-25S instead...