Scyla

1) If you order items with different release dates (i.e. the tems are in the same shopping cart) they will send you all the items when they are all available. In addition the shopping cotsts they calculate cover all the items you've ordered in one session. For example I ordered the YF-29 30th Anniversary Edition and her Super Parts in the same session. They send the package with both items when the Super Parts where available in May. Also they calculated the shipping costs when the order was made so splitting up the order or combine it with other orders (I tried with the VF-171 CF) will result in a different amount of money you have to pay. Combining orders will most likely raise the shipping costs (don't know about splitting). I would've had to pay more if I had included the VF-171CF into the YF-29 order. If you're planning to split/combine orders you have to sent them an email. 2) Never used it.

I bought a Robot Damashii figure to add it to the VF-27 just because I was curious about the line. Maybe hlj has something on a sale that may be interesting to you.

I was just asking myself if the VF-27 should have as much detail as the VF-25s since it is a more advance plane and thus should look more organic then the current generation Valkyries. On the other hand I'm probably making this up to soften the blow of this release. Hlj just send me the invoice for the VF-27 just waiting for the rest of my orders to go to the warehouse and soon this will be mine. *swoosh*

I figured that this would be the case since someone posted a response regarding spare parts for Bandai toys which said that Bandai will only replace the whole unit and will not send any replacement parts. If my mind serves me correctly this was a response from the hlj customer support.

Regarding the extra gun holder piece: since Bandai opted for an excessive amount of extra pieces for the RVF-25 to attach its gun-pod instead of modding the swing bar like they did for the VF-25G I had no hope for the VF-27. Shame on you Bandai!!!

Regarding the first question: I would start with a VF-1S Focker as my first Valkyrie but since you seem to be very keen on the YF-29 I won't try to persuade you (also my first Valkyrie was a VF-25F Renewal). The chance of a YF-29 Ozma Custom being made is there. I'm sure Bandai made the move for the Isamu Custom because of the YF-19 announcement from Arcadia. So if this release sells well they maybe thinking about the Ozma variant. The schedule for any Frontier stuff from Bandai is pretty empty since they re-released all the line. What's left is the Monster and the VF-27 CF version, some VF-171 Variants and the Macross Galaxy ghost drones (I'm sure they don't want to release capital ships). So if Bandai gets bored they might start to release some obscure paint schemes like the YF-29 Ozma to make some easy money. Regarding the second question: Bandai Valkyries are released over the whole year. Since the beginning of the year we almost had a new Valk or an accessory every month. So you could check this very forum for new releases. The Macross World homepage (MW is not only this message board) or the Macross toy news on the Toyark (there is a way to only list Macross related news but I don't know how to filter it from the top of my head). Don't know what Arcadia is planning as a release schedule but they are a new company but their stuff seems to bee widely available for preorder so you don't miss them when you blink. Regarding the third question: the Tamashii Web Shop belongs to Bandai and sells exclusive items that are only available through them. In addition they don't ship internationally so you need a Japanese address if your planning to buy stuff from them directly. The drill is the following: once an item is announced the shop will open a preorder window for the item that stays open until the deadline (usually several month). After that they produce as much items as they received preorders. Usually the item will never be produced after that. This is the reason why the YF-29 Alto Custom Super Parts are only available with a huge mark-up. Since most foreigners (like the toy-fanatics on this message board) don't have a Japanese address they have to go through a middle man for buying Tamashii Web Shop exclusives. There are several choices available ranging form web-shops (like NY), proxy buyers (like fromjapan) or even group buys on message on message boards. Normally preorders for Bandai Valkyries should not sell out that fast so the market is kinda overheated. To sum it up web exclusive means that the toy probably will never be re-released and a proxy fee for foreign buyers.

The release date for this one is August the 10th right? HLJ still posts the end of August but the also have the VF-1S reissue from Arcadia as an August release so I don't think I can trust them regarding dates.

What a coincident!

I think the VF-22S look fine in Battroid-Mode. It just looks different then other Valkyries. I really like it especially as the Max Custom.

I think an updated version of the YF-21 is in the realm of possibility but since the sales of the VF-22S variants seem to have been lacking I don't seem Arcadia redoing them (Especially since I bought a VF-22S during the great Yamato decay; I don't want to buy it again and honestly the Blue Gazer is a great looking toy ). So I would get the VF-22S since a reboot of the Macross Zero toy line seems likely if Arcadia survives long enough. However, do take my words with a grain of salt because I'm a noop and I don't know what I'm talking about.

I think there is a good chance that Arcaida will release a updated VF-0 after the release of the YF-19. The VF-0D miniature shown in the technical drawings of the YF-19 indicate that this is what they are planning to do next. If Mr. K is in the mood he might leak a few images after the first Valkyrie release from Arcadia.

Does the reissue have hard plastic head lasers in addition to the PVC ones like the 25S and 25G had?

Oh come on, we all have fun swiveling wings around. That was the coolest feature of the old F-14 model kits. To bad they cannot make them geared.

In my eyes the leg delivery system would not violate the perfect transformation idea if the legs stay attached onto the chest plate panels until they have been snapped into the nosecone. No loose parts that fly around detached from the main body. Also in my mind a collector toy should aim at being as close to the "real" thing as possible. But as you said my mileage varies. If Arcadia does another iteration of the VF-1 they should do something different. For a long time the "Chunky Monkey" was thought of the best possible VF-1 toy until Yamato started to improve the design. I think Arcadia can improve in areas other than get rid of the priest collar. With new materials and improvements in the design many thinks can become possible that were unthinkable of in the past. However I will enjoy the hell out of the VF-1S when I have in hands so Arcadia can take it's time for designing a new VF-1. Oh, and release the Mirias VF-1J from Macross 7 already. The President needs a new ride! And with new I mean old!

Ok I give up. I ordered one through HLJ. It will be my fist V2 VF-1 from Arcadia/Yamato. I'm really hyped after all the praise the toy got in the last few years. However I would love to see a V3 toy that picks up a few of the features Bandai packed into their 1/72 kit like the leg deployment. Hope the Super and Stripe Parts will be also available through HLJ. Does anyone know the exact release date? HLJ still states a release in August and amiami has November as estimated release date.

From my experience I got served pretty late for paying a long time upfront. For other orders I got the shipping notice early when I paid after the invoice was sent to me. I've never heard that NY had to cancel orders because the received insufficient stock (in fact they seem to have plenty units in stock after release). However I can imagine that if they run into a stock shortage they will serve the people first who already paid for their orders. If we're talking about this specific item you will get your item because Bandai will produce your toy just for you if you place an order. NY will sell it to you if you still want it when it's released. Be aware that when you order in Yen that your credit card will be charged with the exchange rate when you pay the order. That means If you place your order know in Yen and in the next six month (under the assumption that the toy is released in six month) the currencies change you have to calculate this change into your budget. This can be either good or bad since it can mean that you pay less for the toy than you initially estimated but it can be also the other way round. Just keep this in mind when you place your order.

In general I find it difficult to have such discussions when we talk in $$$ instead of Yen. A few things can happen before this toy is released regarding the exchange level so maybe the 30000 Yen *hint hint* will be below $300 or above.

Bandai will keep the preorder window up until the deadline so you can oder five more units!

I assume that the tightness of the joints will get loose with every release of the toy due to the molds wearing down. The sub standard paint application on mine not be a widespread issue so lets hope that the paint on this release sticks a little bit better to the surfaces. Especially on the metal shoulder bits and the nosecone. Oh and don't forget the issue with the shoulder pauldrons during transformation.... ... it is a good thing that this variant does not have the fin on the head so one less thing you have to worry when opening the package. Oh and on mine one of the hip-thingies his some kind of malformed because it cannot sit flush against the fuselage in Fighter-Mode. My version has so many issues that I cannot count them all. I guess that's the joy of collecting foreign toys. I really hope all your shiny new YF-29 Isamu Custom Valkyries come in pristine condition.

I'm gonna pass on this release. The YF-29 that I have (the 30th Anniversary) has the worst finish of all my Bandai pieces. Loose joints, paint smudges and chipping paint all over the place. I will wait for Arcadias YF-19. (In addition I have an eye on the VF-1S reissue later this year). I hope for many orders though so that Bandai can gauge the demand for these toys properly. So go on and order a whole squadron of this one.

Given how popular the whole super hero flicks are I would buy a Hot Toys Iron Man and put it in a prominent place where everyone can see it. They will recognize it and all the fancy jets will be forgotten. Since you don't care about the Hot Toys stuff they can touch it and break it. Best advice is to put a $3000 price tag onto the Iron Man so they know it is the most valuable thing in your house/flat. Camouflaging and deceiving is the name of the game. Don't forget no one is interested in 1/6th scale man dolls (they are creepy) only collecting transforming jets is a proper lifestyle!!! ... Honestly if you really have a problem with other people judging you just leave them in Jet-Mode they camouflaging themselves very well. Most of the people that look at my Transformers Alternity stuff think they are car models and its the same with Macross jets. However I always have to explain why I have a giant purple Ironclad Gunboat displayed. Just be careful when talking about prices. First people don't understand what it means to import stuff from a foreign market economy even if you explain it to them. Secondly toys, even the ones made for collectors, are no abstract art pieces so most people seem to have preconceptions about how much they should cost (other than abstract paintings ). That said in general I found that most people are cool with that stuff if you are not defensive about your hobby. Be offensive and you will see that most people collect some kind of stuff some of them might be as obscure as your Macross toys. Sharing pictures of my VF-25S with a friend of mine he told me that it's pretty cool and want to know more about it. In addition I now know that my friend collects Lego sets.

So since Arcadia is planning to release a VF-1J (SDF:M) a VF-1S (DYRL?) and a YF-19 (M:Pluss) its save to assume that they have the licenses for those three properties. Now they have to reissue the VF-11C or the VF-1J from Macross 7 and we know everything is the way it was before plus and additional 20% MSRP on all toys. Please Arcadia re-release the VF-11C *beg*.

I'm sure that the obvious explanation is something like fixing a surface problem and doesn't has anything to do with the final product but maybe there is more to it. The gray bits are on both tail fins and seem to have roughly the same shape (as far as I can tell) thus it seems like something that is their by purpose. We'll see what it is when the toy is released or more prototype images will be released. As I said it is very likely that the gray bits have nothing to do with the toy but the magnet idea was the only thing I could come up with. On a second thought it could be a molded in tab to lock them something because the off-white plastic is material-wise not able to perform testing the locking mechanism so the made it out of a different plastic.

You mean the gray colored squares in the middle of the off-white colored tail fins? I have no idea why they are there. Maybe they will mold in a magnet so the fins can attach securely onto the fuselage of the Valkyrie for various modes (I think the tail fins are angled inwards for High Speed Mode don't they?) Other than that I don't really have a clue.

The shoulder pauldrons look kinda angled in some shots and not angled at all in other but that may be due to perspective and not because the guy handling the prototype forgot to angle them on some shots or because the prototype doesn't support this feature yet. On the plus side the toy seems already fairly stable because it can hold the Gerwalk pose without any stand supporting it. Too bad you cannot see the ankle assembly on the pictures but I'm sure there will be more prototype images in the future. I'm a happy camper so far.