Salamander

The fighter mode looks like a non-transformable mock-up (note lack of transformation lines on nosecone)

Both of them should work together to give the fans the toys that don't break and stop fighting each other.

Toynami just let yamato make the alpha and beta (legioss and tread) fighters already. Then re-release robotech versions of them with characters from shadow chronicles with toynami changes to them.

We all just want something that doesn't self destruct after a few seconds looking at it.

...

Wait.

You...are...suggesting...that...to...cut...breakage...YAMATO...(of all that you can choose of)...MAKES THEM?!?

This does not compute.

Brain hurts.

At most, I'd ask Yamato to make the base design, then choose a capable company whose engineers actually know something about QC and what kind of materials you need to use for certain parts to prevent them from breaking AND that has factories upon which they can enforce their quality standards to actually finish the design and produce it.

And no, I do not neccessarily mean Bandai or Takara.

I like how it looks so far. Bandai are putting a lot of effort into it. Is this the most complex transforming toy bandai has ever made?

I really wish people would stop thinking that Bandai has never made complex transforming toys, or that Macross designs are inherently more complicated than other designs...

Er...it isn't a picture of the model kit, is it? (with the wrong sign)

Would making them look like Bandai Chunky Monkeys make them too close to the VF-1 line-art, or could HG pull that off?

(looking at the changes made to bootleg toys to make 'em more legit, I'd say they could get away with it...)

I submit more pictures to my Macross World buddies regarding the new re-issue VF-1J and VF-1S. I am surprised the price plus shipping goes up to $100 a piece. I think it is too much compare with the early 2000s re-issue.

The retail price in Japan is 7800 yen - about 72 bucks or 46 Euro ( wow, the dollar is really falling, isn't it? I wonder when 1 Euro will be 2 dollar...). The previous non-FP reissues were 6800 yen, but the dollar was a lot higher then compared to the yen, so back then it was a lot cheaper for you US guys. I think the price has remained about the same for us Europeans.

So it looks like a currency issue, really.

Is the paperwork still the same, or did Bandai include a nice little booklet this time (like they do with SoC releases)?

Wouldn't HLJ end up using EMS since the 1/60 DX would be considered a high end product?

Registered SAL or airmail.

Usually still significantly cheaper than EMS to Europe (+ less import duties)

Psst.

I believe the topicstarter misspelled "Toynami". A Mod should fix that.

A toynazi is something else altogether.

Concerning the Valks, they look pretty good, although a bit too PVCy to my likings...

My guess is that Bandai found out that designing a "simple transformation" Valk, while still having it look good enough for the discerning standards of todays consumers is not as simple a task as they expected.

Designing a simple transformation toy that looks average or that looks crap is easy. Designing one that looks good in all three modes is actually a lot more difficult than most would expect.

With Gundams its easy, cus' most transforming Gundams are just bend the leg at the knees, point feet down, rotate waist 180 degress and attach the shield over the head. Valks in general are a whole different kettle of fish and several orders of magnitude more complex in transformation.

And:

Perhaps Bandai can get transforming tips from Takara, they've been dealing with Transforming toys for almost 25 years now. The best and biggest ones are really complex sometimes and even the small ones are not half back most of the time (depends on which line of TFs though). Of course a Valkyrie is very different from a TF however it is not like they haven't crossed paths before (there are still some Macross-ignorant TF fans that wonder why Jetfire's transformation is so nice and makes him still look cooler than the original Starscream).

Excuse me, but these kind of statements make me boggle.

Bandai (well, their design office Plex) has been designing transforming toys for at least as long as Takara, including really complicated ones (already in the early 1980s). Back then, they designed tons of really complicated toys for various sentai series and (especially) Machine Robo (known as Gobots overseas).

Suggesting that they do not know how to make complex yet show-accurate transforming toys 'a la Yamato' is....inane. Especially considering what they've turned out in the Soul of Chogokin line the last couple of years. Maybe you should pick up such nice transforming toys like (only mentioning the ones I have, other people might comment on other Bandai toys):

- SoC Xabungle: about the size of a 1/144 Gundam model kit, with diecast, tons of accessories, and an accurate transformation.

- SoC Dancougar: One of the first transforming SoCs, and a really fine one. It also strikes a nice 'average' between how Danny looked in the show and the vintage toy...

- SoC Irongear: This is like a giant big cool playset, with tons of opening panels, a buttload of small PVC Walker Machines, some pretty cool accessories, and of course it transforms.

Some cool vintage stuff:

- Flash King (from sentai series Flashman, 1986): Simple transformation, but you've got to admit that the way each jet becomes an arm and a leg is incredibly inventive (hint: it doesn't involve taking the jets apart...).

- Super Gobots Raizor and Nightfright (1985): realistic helicopters (okay, Raizor is a cross between an F-4 and a helicopter) that change into pretty well proportioned robots. See if you can figure out Raizor's transformation by only looking at the helicopter and robot modes... A lot of the later smaller Gobots are quite complicated too.

Also, Bandai /= Gundam. They might be the motor behind the franchise, but they're certainly more diverse than some people assume.

There's loads of other companies that have made and are making transforming toys, some good, some excellent, some bad, some trying-but-not-exactly succeeding. I'm not saying that Bandai is perfect (they're not), but they certainly aren't the retarded newcomers that some people here seem to think they are.

I suspect that the tooling isn't made from pure aluminium, which is a rather soft metal that certainly won't be able to stand many uses, but rather from dural or some other mix of aluminium with another metal. At least it should have some form of surface treatment to resist wear more...

Considering the last 1S reissue didn't use the fugly head design, I doubt the Strike will use the fugly head design.

Unless you can come up with a sensible reason for Bandai to produce two 1/55 1S Valks with different head designs...

I've been wondering about that gap in the torso though, since the coloured prototype they showed seemd to have no gap.

Looks like black paint to me.

And damn, if the missiles launching from the protect armor VF-0 don't look like tentacles.

This has to be the most ludicrous comment yet in this thread...

Yes they have, the chogokin line are spectacular and truly high end.

...So why didn't they do similar for macross ?

Have you ever seen SOC prototypes? Some of them look like someone played around with loads of styrene sheet and low grade resin, eg. they ressemble a bunch of boxes that really only vaguely ressemble the subject while having a transformation with...issues.

The prototype of the VF-25 looks like a prototype that's just above that - one made to show off the transformation while also looking somewhat more like the subject it's supposed to represent. Besides, it's a resin prototype, so it suffers from all of the problems those have like heavy parts and joints that cannot support the weight.

Those SOC prototypes also look like they are full of issues, too. But they do not compare to the final product.

I'll reserve my judgement until Bandai comes with a multi-media test shot showing off the diecast.

My latest Yahoo Auctions Japan scores:

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/105353799

and

http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w11563721

I'm actually quite shocked about the price these two auctions went for. 2300 + 1600 yen (+ 1010 yen shipping within Japan)? I had expected a lot more.

Sure, they're played with, but should include the boxes and instruction sheets. Some of the sticker sheets are missing, but I've already got the reissues too. I think the essential (VF-19A and VF-17D) sticker sheets are there. The VF-17D is missing the gunpod, but AFAIK that one is the same as on the VF-17S. The VF-19 Kai and VF-19S gunpods are mint on sprue.

Including middleman costs and shipping the lot should end up at about 75 bucks... :D

Except that Gobots don't exist in Japan. So that'd be Machine Robo, except that the main hero doesn't really transform, but rather summons a large robot, kicks butt, gets his butt kicked, summons an even larger robot, and wins. Although the anime was decently popular, that was mostly due to the female lead character, AFAIK...

I'd think "Galvion" if it has to be from a transforming robot anime, except that the Galvion anime failed miserably, despite having very nice music, and some really cool robot designs...the toys (designed by Takatoku) were never brought out widely, either (mainly because Takatoku went bankrupt).

Uh, what have we left?

Dancougar? Unlikely, there's the SOC already.

<draws blank on transforming robot animes>

That was one of the worst animated fights I ever saw - annoying dweeb Valk pilot.

Still, the animation itself was pretty decent...

Fit for Natalie beat me to it. Ah, well, here's the pic, should it be pulled from that URL:

[attachmentid=37359]

Good robot modes, 'vehicle modes' remind me of Rocklords, except that they're worse.

Imai did release some molded in color though. The kits are pretty terrible though. As to the size question, they're exactly the same size as the MPC as Toynami used these models in the development of their toy. In fact, the MPC is pretty much just a better version of what you see here.

I wonder why these folks didn't pull the fins out??

The problem with these things is that the paint tends to scratch horribly whenever they are transformed (or even, moved), as Imai engineered them way too tightly, not leaving enough room at joints (the color pics on the instruction sheets often showed scratched paint, IIRC). Couple that to not exactly tear-proof decals, and...well, should be obvious.

We really need pictures to go along with all these names.

Mach Blaster:

http://www.zincpanic.com/toy/13351.html

The UK Wikipedia has a rather nice entry with regards to Zoids:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoids

Well, for the sake of variety, I'll retract my earlier Gobot statement. I had no idea there were so many, and actually based on real military aircraft. Most are on par with the aerialbots, in terms or suckiness:

Gobot Jets -

Spy Eye (Tornado) - super gobot

Leader-1 (F-15) - normal and super gobot

Bad Boy (A-10)

Heat Seaker (F-16)

Mach 3 (F-4)

Sky Jack (F-14)

Bullseye (B-1)

Gunnyr (Mig-21)

Royal T (Harrier)

Gobot Props -

Zero (Zero)

Ace (P-51)

Bentwing (F-4U Corsair)

Some more (includes helicopters):

Raizor (F4 Phantom crossed with helicopter) - Super Gobot

Nightfright (Mil M-24 helicopter, IIRC) - Super Gobot

Bolt (twin tail WW2 bomber - P-47 I think)

Flip-Top (Navy helicopter)

Water Walk (Cessna floatplane)

Wrong Way (Apache)

Warpath (Apache)

Twin Spin (Sikorsky cargo helicopter)

Spay C (space shuttle)

Spay C (Super Gobot) (Space shuttle Challenger)

Chaos top half (X-29, IIRC)

Jet & Transport combinator top half (F-15)

Helicopter & Transport top half (Helicopter)

Sky Spy (SR-71 Blackbird) = Snoop

Fantasy planes:

Vamp (monster) - regular and super

Pincher (monster)

Hornet (monster)

Fitor (futristic plane)

Cop-Tur (futuristic helicopter)

Bladez (monster)

Breez (helicopter)

Guide Star (shuttle)

Odd Ball (plane)

Sky Flyer (plane)

Power Suit body (transport plane)

Fangs (monster)

Fright face (monster)

Gore Jaw (monster)

Heart Attack (monster)

South Claws (monster)

Weird Wing (monster)

Re-Volt top half (crazy eagle monster)

Traitor top half (crazy bee-like monster)

Twister (helicopter)

Robot Winch Helicopter (large helicopter)

Raizor, Spy Eye, and Nightfright are really nice designs, by the way.

From Machine Robo:

Apollo Robo (Saturn V launcher)

Mach Blaster (futuristic jet)

R-Jetan (futuristic jet, gerwalk, tank, robot)

Eagle Winner (F-15)

Rotary Kid (futuristic helicopter)

Machine Robo Rescue ('MRR') Jet Robo (jet)

MRR Sky Robo (jet)

MRR Gyro Robo (V-TOL jet)

MRR Helicopter Robo (helicopter)

MRR Shuttle Robo (futuristic jet shuttle)

MRR Machine Commander Robo (jet + two tank-like vehicles combine into bigger jet)

MRR Stealth Robo (Stealth fighter)

MRR V Stealth Robo (Stealth fighter combines with additional parts into large flying wing)

There's more, but then the list would get really long...

The Gundam kits were all so bland in comparison, and even after they started the MG/PG series, the engineers still seem to look at those kits from the "toy" side, perfect fit, many articulated points etc. but they seem to have yet to discover the long lost secret of well detailed surfaces.

Hasegawa seems to be like the opposite: Those guys are used to incorporate many details because they usually make excellent plane kits so their Valk kits (which were in a way just plane kits in the beginning) had all the rivets and access hatches that you could ever expect. On the other hand, they did not have a lucky hand when it came to some of the moving parts of their Battroid kits (hip joints etc.) . But I have the feeling that the Hasegawa engineers caught up with this very quickly while the Bandai people will still need ages to get their surfaces more detailed. It has to be noted, though, that the usual lineart drawings of the Gundams do not contain that many panel lines so you could argue that they just stick to what is shown there. On the other hand, the lineart is a guide for animation which is limited in detail ... but a model of a massive machine should really show a lot more small detail than shown on the screen. The way they are, a person with NO knowledge of Gundam probably cannot tell if that MG kit is supposed to represent a machine that is 20m, 7m or 3m tall unless you open the cockpit or place a csale figure next to it.

Having just received the Real Robot Revolution SPT Layzner kit from Bandai, it seems that they are learning. The thing has *tons* of internal detailing, much better than the MG Patlabors (which are pretty bad at detail, sadly). Some soft vinyl tubing, too.

The only thing I'm really annoyed at is that Bandai included a decal sheet for some parts, but the remaining markings are just stickers...

I've got a fairly big collection - all of the common European 1980s releases, one or two vintage Japanese Zoids, some European Zoids 2, a fair amount of the Japanese ones that were sold from 1999 onwards. The last on I bought was the Shield Liger Mk. II reissue. Most of the latest Zoids are kinda boring, though.

Bart Smith used to sell alot of these during the mid 80's. But they were quite expensive. Someone told me that some stores still sell Zoids in Nederland. But I never found any. Or maybe Amsterdam is the wrong place to look for such things.

Try the collectors' shop 'A Space Oddity' for some vintage stuff and some modern stuff.

Prices are quite high, though.

One was a fully variable Calibur (jeep mecha) Not sure on the scale, maybe 72nd?

The other was an armored suit with flying sled. This one had LEDs for the cannons and the main sled gun was spring loaded.

1/48 probably, like in this Japanese auction: http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/90381364

I'd like to have that kit one day, but not for 7500 yen a piece...