easnoddy

So I'm 3 years late jumping on the Yamato GN-U toyline (Macross only), but I have the 3 original M+ mechs after buying all 3 online for $29.85 shipped (woohoo!). These are great little desktop toys! It says they are made of ABS, but it really feels like polystyrene. They feel like little, cool, pre-built, pre-painted models. Since Yamato's last release in the series was 09/2009, can I assume that Yamato has abandoned this line? This could have been a really cool long-range toyline (going into M7, M0, etc) as a sturdier alternative to the Kaiyodo Revoltech line which seems to keep going. I really wish they would have stuck to Macross instead of venturing into super robots. I can see myself getting all of the Macross GN-U Dou releases (fast pack sets are probably next for me, then the VF-X2 releases). The VF-22's and VF-11C would have been pretty logical next step like they did with the 1/60 line. Speaking of defunct toy lines, did Bandai ditch the VF100's line after the VF-25's due to customer response? Holding the GN-U Dou figures I find myself wanting scaled-down versions of Yamato's transforming fighters, so I'll probably get the VF100's to keep on my desk at work. I have yet to own one, but those and Damashii seem like nice, albeit overpriced toy crack for my work desk. They look solid in all 3 modes but are total partsformers so people didn't like them very much. I'm really curious to try out the VF Hi-metal line. They look pretty sweet based on the reviews I've seen.

That's a lot of gerwalk-mode kibble. Its like they didn't even try to thing of a way to collapse the wing/tail section in Gerwalk. At least on the YF-21/VF-22S the rear section slides forward. The VF-1 the tail section folds and flips over. The VF-25 was bad in this department, the 29...now Kawamori is just getting lazy. This is transformers-esque.

Ok, so got a VF-25 DX earlier this week, a few things. I'm happy to have the toy. There are many cool/good things about it and many bad things about it. First thing I did was gently wash it with dish-soap and water to remove any mold-release oil still on the toy. Good: ===== Shoulder mechanism Good amount of diecast Good looking/locked plane mode Decent battroid mode It comes with a stand Internal landing gear Bad: ==== Floppy backpack, hips, shoulders Crotch-locking mechanism is not "strong" enough (generally doesn't lock together well in any mode except plane) The paint application is thin and scratches easily Too many little tabs, things need to lock without tabs...tabs break...hello Yamato VB-6 Fast packs...heard of magnets Bandai??? Seriously, these things fall off WAY too easily Weird little non-realistic landing gear Plastic joints in the back are scary weak and finally... GERWALK...WTF was Bandai thinking? The legs need to be able to lock forward. The hips should lock in this mode. The back is totally floppy. The fast packs totally weigh down the back and I worry about the back joints with fast packs on. Overall this toy reminds me of the Yamato 1/72 VF-11B with a little more complicated transformation. GERWALK is a floppy mess. Battroid is floppy, but it has nothing on GERWALK. Nothing locks really well in GERWALK. Personally, they need to make the swing bars METAL. The hips should have ratchet joints. The shoulders should have ratchet joints. This could fix the whole needing tabs issue. So exactly what floor polish should I put on it? Anyone got a pick? I assume you don't want one with a lemon scent? Edit: Also...Bandai...where the **** is the cannon-fodder that I don't believe we saw in action?

Can you beat the HLJ price of $102 plus shipping?

So I finally got my first Macross toy after 6 years being out of collecting...my choice VF-22S Gamlin. Got it for $114 shipped on Ebay. Its worth WAY more than that. This MODEL feels solid, but its pretty delicate and should be treated as a transformable model. Beautiful piece of engineering. I must agree that the removeable leg thing is a bother. On mine the long metal bar can separate pretty easily too in transformation. On the bottom panels not fitting together...the reason is that the legs (in my case the right leg (left from the underside)) are not pushed forward enough into the appendage compartment. It feels like it is, but just push it forward a little harder, it'll fit. On a selfish note...please do not buy all the Max and Milia ones at HLJ before the end of the sale. The price is too good and I want these but need to wait til I get paid again.

The problem was the Matrosky/.mkv format of the files. Divx player and VLC could play them correctly, but WMP and Media player classic that came with the mkv codec pack from CCCP, would show the video flipped across the vertical access (subs on the top and backwards). The mkv format is completely new to me so I had a download a fair amount and do research just to get this stuff working. The sooner I get it burned to DVD the happier I'll be. Thanks!

So I'm not a streaming/video expert at all, basically a novice. Anyways, I started downloading the Macross Frontier Central Anime subs and the picture is flipped vertically. The subtitles are on the top and the whole picture is upside down. Anyone know why? Know how to fix it?? Thanks!

Sadly, I want the M+ color YF-19 (would be cheaper if I didn't). Is the V2 YF-19 in the same box as the V1 (pic of YF-19 from the front) or is it in the box with the YF-19 from the front/side. Need to know what I'm buying how I can differentiate them. TIA!

Been away from Macross for a few years, but looking to pick up some 1/60's. Trying to decide whether to get the original or re-releases. Are there any fixes in the releases for the YF-19, YF-21, and VF-0A???

While I agree that the last 3 Yamato big releases Konig Monster, VF-0S, and YF-19 are fantastic pieces of engineering, too little thought was put into the materials. I don't know how much they spend on the engineering part, but these toys are nearly 99% ABS. Sometimes its just adviseable to use metal drop-in parts for connectors. Anywhere you have hard plastic on hard plastic movement, its going to have negative consequences (stress, breakage, etc). Takatoku figured this out and Bandai perfected it. IMO they should put metal tabs that go into plastic holes IMO, that way the tabs will be less likely to break. Personally, I think the spring-loaded ratchet joints of the shoulders, knees and hips of the chunky monkeys are the biggest and best engineering achievement in all Macross toydom. Unfortunately Yamato did not see fit to copy this. Ratcheting joints can prevent the NEED for a bunch of tabs as the spring helps to keep the parts in place.

Be VERY carful afterwards with those Yellow Sub ball joints!!!! They're meant for MODELS. I repaired TWO VF-11B's with them only to have the ball eventually TWIST OFF the post (broken) and remain STUCK in the sockets. I used superglue to close the hips around my sockets too so I was SOL on them. Looking back, you know what I really should have used??? Metal pericing barbells. I figure using some Epoxy to make the ball stay on the post would take care of it. Oh well now...

1/60 VF-0S Pitot tube thingy needed. Somehow I lost mine, though I have no earthly idea how. Anyone got one to sell? Please PM me if so! Thx, Eric

I still think they could do better. Regardless, the wings are too small and could be made larger without affecting the sculpt. JMO...

Any update on this thread? I just broke both pegs off mine. I superglued both and left it in gerwalk. Then I picked it up today (like a week later), pulled the body apart and the pegs stayed in the holes. I got one out but the other will take some work. I'll try the metal rods but would certainly prefer something more solid like a nail. However, I don't want it to be a hazard for scratching the toy up. I guess I will use a nail though.

OT - But IMO the Toynami Beta will suck just as hard as the alphas. I have had so many problems with the one I own that I just had to find the last Gakken one I was missing. Really dissappointing...as is the scale. The delay in their production schedule is a huge problem as well...2007? Back on topic, Yamato would do VERY well for themselves to re-design and create larger scale toys from Macross Plus. That could lead to improved Macross 7 valkryies as well. I would easily fork over $200 for a 1/48 VF-11B with fast packs...Yamato could break me on that toy alone. Smaller scales suck. I would have preferred the VF-0S in 1/55 scale if not 1/48. We're not talking about a lot of plastic here...

You know, OT a little, but I'd think that a 1A Max would sell better than a non-canon stealth...just a thought... OR how about the green Alaska base CF, that would be SUPER rare and unusual. IMO there could have been much better options than the stealth and LV2. I do like the LV2 though. I hope we don't see Yamato just overuse the mold for the VF-0. I hope they stick to canon valkyries... Then they'd be more likely to make enemy mechs too.

An unusual thing happened to mine. The pin that hols the 2 pieces of the leg swing-bar assembly fell out. I finally got it back in using some needle-nose vice grips. You have to shove it in there hard because there is a frayed end made to keep it in place. I forsee it falling out again in the future. If it does I'll replace it with a nail.

I wish they would have gone with the old standard European theatre camo. The amount of tan in this thing makes it kinda high-vis. Here's 3 schemes that would have been cool IMO. http://www.jpsmodell.de/dc/draw/n83a_tor.jpg http://www.jpsmodell.de/dc/draw/t_gr1_80.jpg http://www.jpsmodell.de/dc/draw/n76lwtor.jpg I like battroid best though.

IMO 2 of the coolest things about this toy are the arrestor hook and the nose antenna. I wish they had kept the moveable flaps. I like them on my 1/48's that aren't my R1 Hikaru 1A. It has its drawbacks and could have used some more diecast in the transformation assemblies for sturdiness (the swingbar is too thin IMO). However, its still very cool and displays nicely. Hey Yamato, where's my 1/48 YF-19?

I agree the kite would be difficult on the nose. Many of the 1/48's have a gap in the nose panels (albeit small). My VF-0S has no gap AND they printed the black stripe on the same seam. If they print it and you don't like you can always cover it with a sticker. However, I love the tampo printing because it make the toy displayable right out of the box.

FYI - It is my understanding that since nailpolish contains acetone (as a thinner I guess), it is actually corrosive to the plastic. Superglue is non-corrosive, permanent, and dries faster. Just a heads up.

I finally got one for $160 shipped off Ebay. Not a bad price IMO. Got it pretty quickly as well from HK. Mine has no obvious defects. The arm-peg/gunpod is a tight fit, but work well enough. Tail spikes are good. Biceps and thigh-swivel are very loose. It has a hard time posing with the gunpod. I will fix this when I fix my VB-6's arms using superglue. I like the tampo-printing, but IMO they should have gone the extra 3 feet and printed the kites on the sides of the fuselage. It also seems lighter than the 1/48 and am not too fond of the color, but I like the toy overall. This toy really makes me wonder...when is Yamato going to make a large-scale YF-19??? This thing screams "the 19 is next!"

Damn, Cap'n. I wish you'd get into ABS injection molding. I'd love to see you make toys of all your designs. That thing in 1/48th scale would be nice!

I don't see any pics, what's going on? Nevermind, my company is blocking stuff from that site...

Agreed, once you get it you will be VERY happy you did. Solid, complex, overall great.