auberondreaming

This is the second valk I have bought based solely on aesthetics, the first being the vf-29. I actually re-watched zero over the weekend just to make sure I still felt meh about it, and yeah I feel meh about it. I was all set to pass this one up till I saw the first colored photos of it, then the lust kicked in. I like both hues of blue I have seen, but then I really don't care about the source material. I think I will just pretend that the vf-od was an advancement between the vf-1 and the vf-4 as it looks like an iteration on the vf-1. If they release an improved version of the vf-0s I'll do the same mental gymnastics. I really don't like when prequels have technology designs that look more advanced than the "later" source material. Enterprise, macross zero, star wars, Prometheus(blargh), deus ex, etc.

Sure, except even though they fold up gravity is still acting on them. If there is no tab, will they eventually just flop down toward the ground? I am assuming there is a tab to keep that from happening, but there have been odd choices when it comes to those kind of hinges from this company in the past. I am just going to assume they will engineer them similarly to the tail fins on the other valks and have a physical means of stopping at that angle. Even the vf-4 has an odd tail fin hinge that can be difficult to get into correct position though. Also, a little concerned that I am willing to pay vf-4 prices for what appears to be vf-1 engineering.

My only concern for this bird is that it has wings with folds, and my vf-21s wing folds are not so great, even out of the box. I want to believe I see tabs to provide the correct angle, here's hoping!

I "hate" that I had passing interest in getting the 25's and couldn't score even one. Then I got my 30th edition 29 and while I like it fine, it doesn't compare to the yamatos in feel or fun. Perhaps not being able to spend that money on the bandais was a good thing, thanks bandai!

Perhaps we should break this thread into people who like the toy and people who hate it? Not sure why we are questioning peoples opinions on either side of this...

My confusion is that they specifically say the point of the fighters is to incorporate fold technology. The red plastic on the nose of the yf-19? Thats a fold crystal, no? So I'm confused because I thought these fighter could fold WITHOUT the need of a fold booster, that was supposed to be built in?

I rewatched plus last night and I had a question. It's specifically stated the point of the 2 yf's being tested is to include fold technology in them. I may have missed the line explaining it, but when isamu and the kid are heading to earth, why does the yf-19 need a fold booster?

Yeah you are right, at least on mine it does not "snap into" the shell like most of my other Valks do. It came right out of the shell with ease, so I would guess it was assembled like that unless the wing was in a really extreme pose. But the plastic packing shell doesn't seem sturdy enough to break the wing like that.

Mommar sorry to hear that. You are experiencing my worst nightmare about being an American Macross Collector. I had a similar experience with AmiAmi on an order, mine was not broken but did not come with decals at all. They told me to jump in a lake basically. That's when I read their customer service policy. It's just not worth it from them, I really hope the folks on this board at least stop using them. HLJ has been nothing but courteous and prompt with me through all of my transactions. As for my copy, its put together quite well. I would be happy to let you take a look at it one of these days. To me it feels very similar to the vf-4, but I agree the vf-4 is the superior piece. I am enjoying my YF-19 though. This whole situation is adding to my growing feeling of dropping out of Macross collecting. If Arcadia can do nothing for us, and the web shops continue down this road, it is always a gamble on getting a pristine copy of a very complicated toy that, as you say, some uncaring worker in a factory is going to rush into a box. On a less complicated and less expensive toy like VF-1 v2 I can tolerate the risk. But if Arcadia is going to raise prices on those as well with no upgrades to the design, and then continue more complicated builds like this but not surpass the vf-4 on execution, I am out. I need a max and miria vf-2, but after that I may just walk. (unless my beloved vf-2ss actually happens, haha right) The moral here is that Arcadia is not starting on a good foot by hiking up prices on vf-1's and not executing as well on this toy as the vf-4.

No I never did buy any of the vf-19's. I wasn't a huge fan of 7, the only 19 I wanted was the YF. I'm sure they are fine, but they do seem like if you are not paying attention you could easily snap one off making a mistake in transformation.

Wow this is a big bird! It has a good heft to it like the VF-4, must be all the die cast. The forward sweep of the wings is much more aggressive in person than conveyed by the pictures. My only gripe at this moment is there seem to be a lot of very little very fragile looking tabs. The tabs that hold the wings to the legs particularly look imminently breakable. I must have hallucinated that this came with a stand, for some reason I was expecting one. Otherwise, loving fighter mode, will transform when there is a decent video up.

Got mine in today from HLJ. Wow EMS shipping is fast, got the notice last Friday, here on Wednesday! Looks amazing in the box, have yet to take it out. Must make space in the office display case!

Has HLJ started taking payments? I have not received an email as of yet.

Current display at the office. Not sure where I will put the yf-19 when it gets here...

a renewal YF-21 would be great, as the originals had some problems. I think you are a little optimistic though. They originally didn't sell all that well, but maybe people want a better quality version and they would be willing to pick it up again. I just can't see the vf-0's being in the same price point as the vf-19.

Ha showing my age, I grew up on Robotech. Hard habits die hard, though to defend myself I do own all of SDF Macross as well as all of the first Robotech series. Still, you grow up with Rick Hunter, you never say goodbye.

Sure, I understand about Roy. But Rick's DYRL? At one point I could pick that up off of HLJ for $80, and that was the height of the Yen value versus the dollar. For a hero valk that one was not selling out at the online stores at least. The mass production movie version paint scheme sold out way before Rick's DYRL. This isn't a vacuum though. This is basically the same company, trying to peddle the same wares to a market their previous incarnation already saturated. Maybe if it was a radical change in the engineering of the product I could see justifying it, but it is literally the same toy. I guess the question is, how many people missed out on the Roy and Rick DYRL from Yamato, and are they a big enough market coupled with the few collectors who will want arcadia branded copies? I am not one of those collectors, my Yamatos are great, and I don't need the arcadia boxes. Still curious, after the vf-19, whats next for higher than vf-1 priced products?

I think Arcadia is excluding many of the Macross collectors with their new pricing strategy. I would love to hear how that 30th issue ugly as hell (IMO) vf-1j sold for them at that price. I don't think I understand Arcadia's business model, or perhaps I don't understand the Japanese market. If I ran Arcadia, I would look at the demand for certain paint schemes, and the first reissue I would do would be the max/miriya combo. Reissuing Roy's and Rick's DYRL paint schemes again? When at least the rick DYRL was always discounted on HLJ and NY as far as I recall? And now you're going to throw in a stand and charge close to double what we were able to get those toys for when they languished on shelves before? Why start out with the soft market as your first reissues? Guarantee some sales to get set up with. If the demand was there then the increase in price would be justified by the market, but these choices are just confusing. Almost doubling the price for the yf-19 compared to Yamato yf-19s seems ill advised as well, though its nice you get all the parts with the toy. I can at least kind of understand that, it's a nice package. But where do you go from here? What can you continue to charge 300+ for as Arcadia? What would you guys pay that price point for? Ricks paint scheme on a vf-4? That's all I can think of.

Ouch man. I tried to get in on the pre-order for the vf-25s and failed. I was trying the day after they went live, not after it had been out for months. Ditto on the reissue for the vf-25f as I came to that game late on the original release. I finally got the 30th edition of the vf-29 on its reissue. Not sure if its unpopular or Bandai felt bad about the last 5 releases they orchestrated. The point is that I had an easier time getting a vf-4 than any of bandais actual "wide" releases, and the vf-4 was supposed to be an exclusive. If Bandai is the future of macross toy collecting then we are all in for serious pain and disappointment. Kind of callous to downplay a failing on bandais part to it being OUR fault for being "lazy."

Just checked em, and yes the arrows are as you say.

Mine is not the blinding white of the tv versions of the vf-1's. I have it next to both my vf-1s DYRL and vf-1s tv version. I would say its a shade or two whiter than the DYRL version of the vf-1s. I really love the fighter mode on that one, and I also dont put the fast packs on it. Great toy. crazy that its a collectors item now.

My two are identical except for the off white vs blindingly white tv version. Oh and I bought the labeled tv version with super packs and that came with a Hikaru figure, I actually bought the DYRL version to get a Roy figure. Be careful about which pilot you want. Otherwise as I recall the missiles are all the same for the base planes.

Got my yf-29 from NY yesterday. First bandai figure, fairly impressed so far! Feels not quite as tight as a (v2)yamato, not as many locking hinges or hidden pegs, but still worth the money! Really appreciate the included stand. What was the deal with the green canopy version? Why did they switch to purple? Looks good, but I thought the green looked better.

NY does it for far less than ebay unfortunately so I am unsure why people would be pissed off about having a reputable online retailer offering things that HLJ doesn't, even if it is for a markup. Thats how I got my vf-1d with option parts. I paid $30 above retail from them. Totally worth it cruising ebay. But if people are pissed that someone is offering a piece for less than ebay prices...well ok then.

As far as business practices are concerned, I would hope Bandai knows about the swiftness of sellout at online retailers, a legal means to bypass the HG BS. If I had a product that sold out that quickly in one market it only makes sense to make a special run for the online retailers. If sales are down in brick and mortars in Japan, don't give them a reissue. Or if they are languishing on the shelves you would think HLJ or NY would snatch them up and make a quick little profit off of them.