ChristopherB

Hello,

I just want to publically thank "Save" for starting this thread, updating the list and graciously attending WF while attempting to obtain these items for his fellow fans.

I was very happy to receive a message from Save advising that he was able to obtain the following (3) items for me as listed in his PM dated 02/07/2010:

1.) T-REX 1/60 Yamato cockpit single & twin seats with Millia and the Micron Capsule set B - Price 3000

2.) VF-17D/S by Experten - Scale 1/100 - Price 35000 yen

3.) Flash Back VF-4G by Experten - Scale 1/100 - Price 18000

In my humble opinion, his service fees are reasonable and his assistance appreciated.

As of this moment, I'm waiting for pictures and the total price with shipping of my items prior to making payment via Paypal.

I'll post the pictures as soon as I receive them, and hope other customers will do the same.

Congratulations to everyone else who was able to obtain WF items.

Sincerely,

Christopher

all mine are 500x333, 1024x768-ish is a good size too. If you use photobucket, you can post thumbnails

that link to full size versions but the thumbnails are tiny.

for my pics I use Flickr, which lets you upload large images and view them at different sizes. I just copy the direct link for a medium size image, use an image tag:

url goes here[/ img]

then use that as the text for a hyperlink to the larger picture: small image's URL[/ img][/ url]

Thank you for taking the time to respond and answer my questions.

I'll buy a decent camera as soon as possible and post some pictures.

You pay customs tax to shipments to the US? I never had that before.

Hi Nukatsuka,

I'm an American (W.A.S.P.) from Houston, Texas, but I live overseas (expatriate). Although I'm patriotic, you couldn't pay me a million dollars to live in the US again. Too expensive, recession, unemployement, racial tension, stress, obesity, so many chicks with big "tunnels", materialistic, large prison population, and so forth.

I'm fortunate to live in a foreign country and have a loving wife who only slept with me since the day she was born. Unfortunately, I had to pay customs tax, but the cost of living here is so good, that everything more than works out. I have a (4) bedroom (3) bathroom US style house with a full time maid, yardboy, plenty of American restaurants (McDo, Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC, Tony Roma, TGIF, etc) English is taught in the schools, and I get treated with respect by the locals.

If you ever want to visit, just let me know via PM.

Back on topic, here are some pictures of my recent Hobby Link Japan order:

Just arrived from the post office:

Macross items only:

Complete order including Transformers:

Sincerely,

Christopher

PS: You can check out my Ford here: 2010 Escape w/ 20" rims

Hello,

I took some pictures of my 2010 Ford Escape, which I bought last week.

Ford is my personal favorite, and they refused to accept any government bail-out money. They posted a nice profit as well recently.

I decided to pay cash rather than make montly payments, especially considering you don't really own the car if you finance it.

You can see more information here:

Kelly Blue Book

I went with the Hybrid model with leather interior, 6 CD changer, remote keyless entry and I added 20" custom rims with Toyo tires.

I highly recommend the Ford Escape, and wanted a color other than the standard/boring black, white, red or silver.

Please PM or post if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Christopher

PS: Normally I buy V8 Mustangs, but they're gas mileage isn't great.

The last picture shows the (5) large boxes of valkyries/transformers that arrived from Hobby Link Japan. With customs tax the total came to $3,000.00 (I'll be uploading pictures soon in another thread.)

Wow, that's great news!!!

I was really, really close to buying the overpriced previous release and worried that the VF-0A would have shoulder and/or tail fin problems.

Hopefully they will release them with the ghost again as well.

Ooops, looks like WF is this coming weekend. I should have read the thread title more closely.

I keep forgetting that it's Winter time in most places, because here it's so sunny and beautiful outside.

Hello,

I haven't posted any pictures on MW for several years, so I'm a little bit rusty.

I'm only using a brand new Nokia X3 music edition with 3.0 megapixel camera. My wife and I plan to buy a real digital camera soon.

My plan is to upload some pictures to Photobucket and then post them to this thread.

I checked the MW Forum Rules & Guidelines and couldn't find any information as to the recommended image size.

Please let me know what would be a good size so as to not use too much bandwidth, etc.

I also wasn't sure how people post reduced sized images, which expand to full size when they are clicked.

Thanks in advance,

Christopher

Hello,

I finally had time to visit the local post office and found (5) boxes waiting for me, (4) of which are pretty big.

Looks like my limited edition GBP armor with smoke effect arrived very quickly.

I was pretty upset to find out that I was expected to pay $400 in customs tax, which brings my grand total up to about $3,000.

My plan is to upload some pictures to Photobucket and then post them to this thread.

I checked the MW Forum Rules & Guidelines and couldn't find any information as to the recommended image size.

Please let me know what would be a good size so as to not use too much bandwidth, etc.

Thanks in advance,

Christopher

Wow, thanks for the links!!!

It's been a few years since I bought WF items. A fellow long time MW member and I are planning to have some Macross items available for sale there.

It's still in the planning stages though.

What are the prospective dates for the Winter WF?

That way I know how much longer I have to save up.

Thanks in advance.

Hello,

I'm considering buying this release as well, the color scheme is cool.

There's quite a few available on eBay. Not sure if the prices are good or not.

Sincerely,

Christopher

by the beard of christ !!! What a haul, next time though I suggest shopping around a little bit so that you can save some cash. HLJ sold u most of that stuff at MSRP.

Amen brother, I'm gonna take your advice and shop around for the best deals in the future. I could have bought something nice with the money I would have saved. Oh well, live and learn.

Very nice Mustang areaseven. That's my favorite car, I've owned about ( so far to include the 1985 Mustang SVO. My favorite is the 1993 Cobra R 5.0. Last week I bought a 2010 Ford Escape in the same color as your car, or pretty close. It's called "Fusion" I think.

Thanks for the info. about the VF-25A Cannon Fodder, and I also hope Bandai will release one soon. Bandai doesn't seem to be as re-paint happy as Yamato, but perhaps that will change with time.

Nice helmet and car, thanks for the pictures!

I was thinking about getting the Hikaru motorcycle helmet version to use with my Yamaha FZR 1000cc, the colors are similar.

It's weird, but as soon as I saw the neighborhood in the background, I knew that was Texas.

I grew up in a new subdivision just like that in Deer Park, just outside of Houston. My father is a native Texan as well going back several generations, but my mom's a cajun from New Orleans.

See ya'll later over yonder

I would have cancelled the whole damn orders the first thing I see them go on sale.

Yeah, you're right my friend.

It was my stupidity, and I hate to use this word...but I assumed HLJ would automatically give me the sale price. Once again I learned that assuming only makes an ass of yourself. Ha, ha

Oh well, I'm now more wise and wasted some good money all at the same time.

HLJ wanted to ship my packages via SAL, but I was like screw that. They're supposed to have a policy that high value orders can only be sent by EMS, but apparently that doesn't apply to large orders. So I reminded them that I requested EMS in the very beginning and paid the revised amount straight from my bank account.

I hate credit cards, because you've got to pay it later plus interest, annual fees, and so forth.

I thought the V2 is still on sale? why are they charging you full retail price?

Yeap, you guys are 100% correct.

I love HLJ, but they weren't very fair with me especially after I've been a loyal customer for so long.

I e-mailed them and said, "Hey, why aren't you giving me the sale price?"

They replied with, "Sorry, but you placed your order before the sale started. If you want the lower price, cancel the discounted item(s) and then make a brand new order."

I was on my way to leave town and my wife was fussing at me to turn off the computer, so I just let it slide. Too bad though, I could have saved some money for something else.

Not sure if anyone else has the problem, but I like too many different things...Macross, Gundam, Transformers, Evangelion, Tamiya 1/16 R/C tanks, motorcycles, etc.

Unless your really rich, you can't possibly get all of the different releases.

Whoa, man, I envy you . How big the package will be when it comes?

Hi reeoyuy,

Wow, only (11) posts in the (18) months since you joined.

Well, if it was only (1) package I couldn't fit it in the back of my Ford Escape very easily, let alone carry it.

Even so, I'm pretty sure each of the (3) packages will be pretty large considering the size of the Bandai/Yamato boxes.

Please don't envy me, I have too many sleepless nights due to contemplation of material possessions. ha, ha

"I'm running out of time. I'm out of step and closing down, and never sleep for wanting hours, the empty hours of greed. And uselessly always the need to feel the again the real belief of something more than mockery, if only I could fill my heart with love." Robert Smith

Sometimes I wonder if it's a waste of money to buy toys, but if we don't spend our money, someone else will. I'm sure a lot of people don't understand our fixation with robots, especially at our age.

No offense to anyone, but my advice is to play with and display your valkyries/kits/figures. If you're saving them as Mint in Sealed Box, you will be sadly disappointed to find they won't make you rich in the future. Something newer or better will have been released by that time. The days of high priced Bandai Hi-metal 1/55 valkyries, Joke Machines, etc. are long gone.

The highest priced Macross item on eBay is a brand new helmet at a little more than $500. There is a glut of Macross/Robotech/Transformers and so forth. Everyone who wants something can buy it now direct from the manufacturer, so there won't be a secondary market.

That's my two cents,

Christopher

Hello,

After reading this thread for a long time, I finally broke down and decided to order the Bandai 1/60 VF-25. I have all of the 1/100 releases to include the event only, but I don't really care for "parts formers", although 1/100 scale is better with regard to display space.

I just received my HLJ shipping notice:

EMS (3) boxes:

Item Code Item Name Quantity Price Extended Price

BAN958453 DX Chogokin Macross Quarter 1 19,800 19,800

BAN960342 DX Chogokin VF-25F Super Messiah Valkyrie Alto Custom 1 16,000 16,000

BANOP-48 Macross Quarter Materials 1 0 0

TKT34145 RA-07 Knock Out 1 1,200 1,200

TKT34855 RA-21 Human Alliance Bumblebee & Sam Witwicky 1 5,000 5,000

TKT35579 RA-22 Human Alliance Sideswipe & Tech Sergeant Epps 1 5,000 5,000

TKT35582 RA-23 Arcee 1 2,300 2,300

YMT00054 QF-2200D-A Ghost 1 4,800 4,800

YMT00063 SV-51 Gamma Ivanov Type 1 21,800 21,800

YMT00067 YF-21 1 21,800 21,800

YMT00122 Destroid Tomahawk Olive-Drab Weathering Special Version 1 12,000 12,000

YMT00126 VT-1 Super Ostrich 1 15,800 15,800

YMT00127 VE-1 Elint Seeker 1 16,800 16,800

YMT00130 VF-1D Virgin Road 1 9,800 9,800

YMT00171 VF-1S Low Visibility Ver. 1 9,800 9,800

YMT00172 YF-19 Prototype Unit No.3 Bird of Prey 1 18,800 18,800

YMT00176 VF-1J Hikaru Ichijo w/Armor Parts 1 16,800 16,800

Merchandise Total: 197,500

Shipping Charge: 15,000

Total: 212,500

I'll post some pictures/feedback, and I really hope I made the right choice. The VF-27 looks awesome, and I placed my pre-order with HLJ the same day they started to accept orders.

Sincerely,

Christopher

Hello,

I'm waiting on (4) packages right now, but not all of it is Macross. I'm out-of-town now, so hopefully they'll be there when I get home. I'll post some pictures as soon as possible.

At the current time, I'm living in the Philippines, check out Subic Bay on Wikipedia/Google. Beautiful place, sight of former US Navy base. Jungle, beaches, mountains, and lots of recreational activities, plus a 46 to 1 exchange rate for Americans!!!

Here are my HLJ shipping notices:

EMS (3) boxes:

Item Code Item Name Quantity Price Extended Price

BAN958453 DX Chogokin Macross Quarter 1 19,800 19,800

BAN960342 DX Chogokin VF-25F Super Messiah Valkyrie Alto Custom 1 16,000 16,000

BANOP-48 Macross Quarter Materials 1 0 0

TKT34145 RA-07 Knock Out 1 1,200 1,200

TKT34855 RA-21 Human Alliance Bumblebee & Sam Witwicky 1 5,000 5,000

TKT35579 RA-22 Human Alliance Sideswipe & Tech Sergeant Epps 1 5,000 5,000

TKT35582 RA-23 Arcee 1 2,300 2,300

YMT00054 QF-2200D-A Ghost 1 4,800 4,800

YMT00063 SV-51 Gamma Ivanov Type 1 21,800 21,800

YMT00067 YF-21 1 21,800 21,800

YMT00122 Destroid Tomahawk Olive-Drab Weathering Special Version 1 12,000 12,000

YMT00126 VT-1 Super Ostrich 1 15,800 15,800

YMT00127 VE-1 Elint Seeker 1 16,800 16,800

YMT00130 VF-1D Virgin Road 1 9,800 9,800

YMT00171 VF-1S Low Visibility Ver. 1 9,800 9,800

YMT00172 YF-19 Prototype Unit No.3 Bird of Prey 1 18,800 18,800

YMT00176 VF-1J Hikaru Ichijo w/Armor Parts 1 16,800 16,800

Merchandise Total: 197,500

Shipping Charge: 15,000

Total: 212,500

EMS (1) box

Item Code Item Name Quantity Price Extended Price

BAN958458 VF HI-METAL VF-19 Kai Fire Valkyrie 1 7,000 7,000

TKT35583 RA-25 Human Alliance Skids & Mikaela Banes 1 5,000 5,000

TKT36731 RD-20 NEST Decepticon Bludgeon 1 3,800 3,800

Merchandise Total: 15,800

Shipping Charge: 2,700

Total: 18,500

Sincerely,

Christopher

Valkyrie addict,

Very eloquently spoken, and you intelligently stated your position without being repetitive. I'm impressed and you literally took the words right out of my mouth, as well as others, I'm sure.

Honestly, this is my first experience with a company "recycling" a high price broken/defective item into a new box without any warning to the customer. This was nothing short of deliberate and intentional on the part of Yamato.

Historically it reminds me of when the Japanese ambassador was negotiating with Washington, DC, while at the same time the Japanese Navy was bombing Pearl Harbor. While it's not fair to consider the entire country in general terms, I always presumed that Japanese businesses operated under high ethical standards, in comparison to many American companies. Yamato is truly motivated by the Yen.

Sincerely,

Christopher

Loop,

I had the same thing happen to one of my 1/48 valkyries. I just fixed it using some super glue and never posted anything.

It's just a small nub, and looking at the picture the mold looks to be pretty worn out.

You're correct that the plastic can become brittle.

Sorry to hear about your problem.

Sincerely,

Christopher

Eugimon,

Wow, I like the repair you made. Excellent idea! You could make some money offering repair kits, especially since the left/right shoulders are the same.

Ron5864,

Cool custom. The symmetry is great and the weathering makes it look more realistic.

Thanks for posting the pictures, very nice!

Eugimon,

Sounds like a good plan. Would you please post some pictures of your "little metal insert" or a link to the thread if it already exists? I'm interested to see your remedy.

ChristopherB

If past performance is an indication of future behavior, then Yamato will not provide any replacement parts to customers living outside their limited service area.

Instead they will release V3, which will eliminate the shoulder problem, provide various upgrades taken directly from MW, while at the same time introducing another point of breakage in anticipation of V4.

I checked last night and the Max VF-1S and Hikaru VF-1J weathered versions both utilize smooth pins. Hopefull the Focker VF-1S weathered will follow suit.

Eugimon,

It's up to you, but I would recommend doing preventive maintenance now. You might wake up one day to find that the shoulder has stress marks or has cracked. From what I've read, the pins are pretty easy to remove and sand down.

My fear is that my GBP will arrive with the shoulder already cracked, so I'll have no chance to fix the problem.

Sincerely,

Christopher

Hello,

So far, I only have (2) 1/60 V2 valkyries, which are both the limited weathered versions. Previously, I naturally presumed they are brand new toys, but after reading the posts I learned that Yamato has been repackaging and repainting old valkyries that sold poorly the first time around. Very clever marketing on their part and completely sh!tty to sell broken toys at such high prices.

As such, I will have to inspect my (2) valkyries and post pictures if I find any cracks/breaks. Lord forbid.

After reading all of the posts/threads I have decided to cancel my pending 1/60 V2 orders, because they can break sitting in the box, sitting on the shelf, or suddenly break after being just fine for several months. When Yamato released the 1/60 V1, we didn't know about V2. Who knows if we will see V3 one day, especially after we created a thread with so many good suggestions.

For my part, I will wait for the Bandai 1/100 perfect transformation VF-1 and see how it does. In addition, I would rather own a "parts former" for a lower price than pay a high price for a perfect transformation valkyrie with broken shoulders.

Sincerely,

Christopher

I ordered the 1/60 GBP, but would rather have the low visibility woodland color scheme that was released for the 1/48. I hope Yamato will release it soon.

The factory should have thrown away or recycled the old style metal pins. Honestly, if they were supposed to be using a new pin, why would they leave the old ones laying around for the factory workers to pick and choose as they like?

My experience is that these toys are made in an assembly line process, wherein specific individuals are responsible for the final shoulder assembly. This was created/perfected by Henry Ford to permit employee specialization, thereby increasing production speed. Considering the toys are made in China, I sincerely doubt the workers are college graduates. Companies use China because of the cheap labor. This is an example of the fact that you don't always get what you pay for.

A pin with one edge like that is normally used to keep the pin from sliding out on one side; however, it makes no sense to use it in such thin plastic holes. I feel bad for everyone who has spent so much money only to end up with a broken arm hinge.

The plastic around the pin looks to be only 1mm in thickness, which is much too thin for a shoulder joint, not to mention that the arms hold additional weight with the gunpod and armor. Getting a good Yamato appears to be a crapshoot. Roll the dice and pray yours won't end up an amputee.