Scyla

You're right! I'm curious why I didn't get that before. Must be the feminine legs. Damn, they are so distracting! Maybe the cockpit bubble and intakes too. But the legs are disturbing! I never understood why the people thing that the Frontier Valks look feminine with the VF-22 around.

The renewal Frontier toys are excellent. Some things you can extract from the current Yamato designs are covers for the screw holes on the back of the thighs, molded interior of the add-on armor and a matte finish. I don't know how Yamato would handle the excessive use of detail on the Valks. I like the Bandai approach even if it's prone to paint scratching and I'm not a big fan of the sticker sheets. Oh, and I guess availability would not be such an issue .

You have to take into account that the fighter design in Macross reflects the design philosophy of current military fighters and product design. So the YF-30 looks like a hybrid between a F22/F35 and an Ipod . And the VF-0/VF-1 looks like the F-14/15/16/18 that were popular during the early 80s. Macross Plus/7 planes have design elements from the Eurofighter/Rafale and some stealth palnes (especially the canards). Valkyries have also reoccurring themes. There are the angled dual tail fins, the arms between the legs, adjustable wing span attachable and bulky armor and a Gatling gun inside an old fashioned bomb casing. That said I guess the next generation of Variable Fighters will look like the current drone design (Predator/Global Hawk) with armor patches and missile pods all over it. You see the reason why I got in the toy collecting hobby were the few transformer toys I had when I was a kid. And I always wished that the toys would look and handle (transformation/articulation) like in the show. And I feel like the current Bandai and Yamato Valkyries as well as the Transformers have reached a sweet spot with the Valkyries on the upper end and say TF Prime Dreadwing on the other end. So my childhood wishes came true and I'm satisfied. So if the next step doesn't please me I can look at my Frontier/Masterpiece shelf and the world is o.k. until the next truly awesome toy comes around. Hobbies work that way I guess.

With a new Macross show there will be a new generation of Valkyries. Maybe we get then 2-3 new transformation schemes. And the original show only had the VF-1 Scheme right? Maybe Yamato is producing a Battle 7 model or some of the enemy fighters from Macross 7. They have never been done before don't they?.

Sounds like a new Tamashii Web Shop exclusive weapon set to me. I kinda dig the idea of a giant beam rifle that looks over the shoulder of the Valkyrie. Like the strike gun did on the VF-1s. Maybe the gun can transform too so it fills the space in the back of the plane that would be awesome! More parts to fiddle with . Unfortunately that also means more spare parts in storage

After watching the video I have to say that the transformation looks quite awesome. Alas I can't afford Yamato toys with all the Frontier releases down the way .

Yeah thanks for the tip I'll keep it in mind. Maybe there is even a matching color out there in the hobby/model kit segment.

The plane looks really more like the Suchoi T-50. The back fins just remembered me of the YF-23 because the seem so lightly attached to the fighter. I just watched the transformation of the YF-30 lego model. Looks different than the VF-25/VF-27/YF-29 scheme. Not a huge fan of the giant missile pod in the back of the Battroid =/ . FYI: I have to say YT videos with translated Japanese subtitles are hilarious!

It looks a little bit like the YF-23 from the ATF fighter program If it's from the DX Chogokin line I wonder if the transformation will be similar to the VF-25/VF-27/YF-29. Bandai only has this transformation scheme and the one from the VF-171 in their current toys right? A little diversity added to the product line would be very nice .

That might work. I have access to a tool to analyze what kind of color that is. Maybe I can get a car body painter to mix up a little bit of that color and apply it with a spraying gun. Thanks mechaninac!

I just noticed that the 30th anniversary edition doesn't come with a painted display base (unlike the regular YF-29 Alto Custom). I don't know why but I must be the only person in the universe that likes the (painted) display stand that is included with the V1 Super Armor and V2 Frontier Valks. Since I plan do display the fighter next to my other Frontier I need unified display stands. The VF-171 CF gets a pass because it is not a SMS aircraft (if I manage to grab one that is). From what I heard these stands are not very popular. So does collectors sell them on the after market or knows how to replicate the painted look? I really love the solid and smooth paint job so I would hate if any brush strokes or paint noses. Thanks in advance

Can someone explain to me why the anniversary edition has the SMS printings on the shoulder and leg parts? The way I see it this should be reminiscent of the VF-1S Roy Focker so why no U.N.Spacy printing? Or if it is a SMS bird so why no SMS logos especially when it has the SMS stand. I guess it is a SMS fighter *shrug*. Or am I missing anything? It's an awesome Valkyrie for sure but I'm a little bit confused.

I haven't seen The Wings of Goodbye yet but I found this image were you can see the end of the cannon. So the Super Parts for VF-171 CF should only be a repaint perhaps with the missiles shown in this pic. It will be an easy cash-in for Bandai especially for a army builder Valkyrie.... ...if the can provide enough figures that is.