MacrossMania

On 4/17/2023 at 9:28 PM, Slave IV said:

Check the graphics on this deck I just got.

A "deck."  LOL the memories.

2 hours ago, sh9000 said:

My 6th HMR VF-1S Super Valkyrie.

how is the quality on this one?  Any noticeable differences in plastic thickness or diecast content?  I've been looking forward to the Orguss release but the pics so far have been disappointing.  Bandai's legendary design is there, but the figure seems to be completely lacking in diecast.  A real head scratcher for the HMR line.

On 6/25/2022 at 6:36 PM, Grey728 said:

Last set unless you guys want a close of of the Gundams. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, so where is this museum and how do I get tickets?

18 hours ago, Slave IV said:

Yeah, I buy pretty much every Batmobile HW I see since decades ago. Just because.

I was surprised how cool it is.  Picked it up at a local grocery store.  

4 hours ago, Slave IV said:

Ooo, Snow Serpents are nice. Those and EELs are my favorite special environment troops from Cobra. 

You and me both.  Definitely need to get that other one, and passed up plenty of chances to do it.  Prices have me regretting that decision, but I feel like that's the same old song from every collector out there.

But here's something you might appreciate.  Don't know if it's worth much, but satisfies my immediate urges "toy crack" style.

4 hours ago, sh9000 said:

A lot of old school toys have been reissued lately and this is one of them.  I'm happy to own again a brand new one.

Transformers Generations Collaborative Top Gun Maverick.

 

Cool.

Some recent acquisitions of mine.  Obviously not remakes, originals but getting very pricey these days.  I found these at reasonable prices, at least relative to the crazy auction house prices.

Don't often see Joes on here, but they're getting hot.  Makes me regret not getting them earlier, but you can't have everything.

On 12/10/2022 at 6:07 PM, sh9000 said:

View Master 3D Classic Viewer.

That's an amazing find.  Looks brand spankin' new.  Where did you pick it up?

3 hours ago, Lolicon said:

Bandai always cuts corners somewhere, even on their more premium lines.

Hopefully it's nothing serious.  A blip on the radar.

On 11/18/2022 at 2:00 PM, sh9000 said:

Super7 Reaction Star Trek TNG.

Love Reaction figures.  I have most of the Dark Crystal line, but admire many others.  Just can't make it the focus of my collection, but if I could, I'd be like that kid in Toy with Richard Pryor.  Filthy rich and stuffing every corner of his daddy's mansion with toys galore, including every one of the Reaction figures.

22 hours ago, MKT said:

 

I can understand the sentiment of how looks cheap it looks, and it will be initially bolstered somewhat when taking it out of the packaging because of how light it feels relative to its size. This is especially when compared to the non-transforming mecha in the rest of HMR line. We do not have to look across at other HMR IPs, but in the Destroids line itself and the differences in heft is just night and day. But once you handle it with more time & transform this VF-0S, your opinions might change as it did mine because of other factors.

Today I transformed it to Fighter, and just.. wow! The fit and tolerances are just phenomenal, everything lines up and tabs up perfectly, there's minimal gaps as can be expected, and there's NO freeplay anywhere. I daresay it surpasses the Arcadia VF-0 mold in this regard, which does have one or two loose areas, and definitely any of Bandai's own current Chogokin releases (looking at you 31AX!).

This qualitative aspect is hard to convey, the best I can explain is that it has the more toy-like plastic flex of a typical Bandai Chogokin in Battroid, but the fit and tolerances of the best of Arcadia molds (VF-1!) in Fighter. This is quite an achievement at this small 1/100 scale.

As mentioned before, despite the weight the plastics are strong, and the grey parts within the chest and neck although looking very thin appear to be made of POM. This is similar to what Yamato used for their old 1/15 Motoslaves, which has fair bit of small plastic parts, but because of POM material they don't feel fragile and till today haven't heard of any much breakage issues.

It is also a pleasant surprise to find that unlike the HMR VF-1, the missiles can be individually separated from the tree (I know @Angesdad posted a pic earlier of them being worked on individually, it just didn't hit me then). Again, as testament to the tolerances, the missiles fit beautifully to their trees and the trees to the wing mounting slots.

 

 

 

 

 

All the more disappointing.  If they had been so tireless in perfecting the fit and tolerances, then why not the finish?  Again, I suspect it has something to do with the supply chain problems post pandemic, as well as Bandai's apparent shift to digital entertainment (where presumably the focus on toy production will wane over time, but let's just hope that's a Grimm's fairytale that never comes true).  It is sad that with something so well built, they could not have put in the little extra bit of effort to make a beautiful finish.  Alas, it is not to be.  But here's to hoping that a DX VF-0D comes out with that careful (obsessive) attention to detail that they're so famous for.

12 hours ago, nightmareB4macross said:

Or it might just be that Macross Zero still isn’t very popular. Anything we get is merely a blessing in Bandai’s eyes.

Not sure.  HMR line has always been a rehearsal for DX Chogokins in my mind, so it's odd that they didn't plan a more comprehensive figure.  Especially if they're using it as a dry run for something better.  But hey, all of this is speculation.  What does concern me is the SDF-1 (wooden looking), and some of the other mecha prototypes in the HMR line.  The diecast doesn't seem to be coming through on those either.  Not all related to the VF-0D.  But I'm repeating myself...

On 11/9/2022 at 10:27 PM, MKT said:

I suppose, any single-layer white parts will show some translucence when held up against direct light. In the Arcadia VF-1 pic, other than the wings and backpack flap, other places remain opaque.

I was a bit bothered about this VF-0S, because places like the arms and chest, still show some translucence I've not seen in the other HMR when taking pics of them in the usual lighting conditions.

Anyway, I took the short wings of the VF-0S, VF-1J Hikaru, and the VF-2SS, taped them against a lamp shade, and this is what I got:

 

When I measured the thickness of the wings using a vernier caliper, this is what I obtained. But take the absolute figures with a grain of salt, because the wings are not flat and molded with surface curvature, especially so with the VF-1 wings. The thickness varies on different areas of each individual wing, but the takeaway is that the difference in thickness across all 3 are pretty consistent.

 

Although the opacity of each wing appears to correspond to their thickness, the degree doesn't seem to be. The VF-0 is about 5% less thick than the VF-2, but to my eye the light filtering through look to be much more than that...    

 

 

Edit: Well, forget the thickness measurements above. Did another translucence comparison test, and the results are self-explanatory lol..

 

 

I took a look at this in the packaging and was immediately struck by how cheap-looking it was.  Something you'd expect from a Hasbro knockoff, or even Hasbro, but definitely not Bandai.  Then again, as Lolicon pointed out, there's been a tendency to spotlight the mecha in the HMR series, and neglect the valkyries.  I strongly agree, but this latest entry has me seriously wondering about the health of the company going forward after the pandemic.

You really have to wonder with supply chain shortages worldwide whether companies haven't been forced to cut corners in terms of the materials they are using.  I took a look at some recent press releases announcing a change in their five-year midterm plan that was initially announced in April 2018, but was recently changed this year, including a change in mission statement (always concerning).  See https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/cgi-bin/releases/index.cgi/en/press/6089?entry_id=5507.  See also https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/files/5_E4B8ADE69C9FE8A888E794BB_E.pdf.  Nothing immediately jumps out at me, although I did notice a much stronger focus on digital entertainment, and less of a focus on hardcopy toys.  The mission change was also primarily driven by COVID-19.  Again, makes you wonder if this isn't part of an overall strategy pivot away from toys into the digital domain, where perhaps the quality of toymaking will be sacrificed as less resources are devoted to it.  This is pure speculation, however.  Only time will tell.  And the analysis above suggests that their plans on steadily rolling back materials in HMR releases has been going on for some time.  

It would be interesting if this same analysis could be done with all the future releases that Bandai Naamco suddenly flooded the market with this past week.  It's too early to tell from product shots alone, but the materials don't seem up to snuff on those either.  The SDF-1 is especially concerning to me.  Again, it's a prototype, but the plastic seems cheap, off, like it was carved out of wood or something, and the panel lining is almost non-existent.  The detailing also seems to be missing.  I don't recall this ever happening with the DX Chogokins.  Those prototypes really popped, and perfectly summed up the line.  Again, we'll see.

On 5/31/2022 at 4:50 AM, MKT said:

I was just too focused at the toys on the shelf first time around, and only now I noticed the green helmet hanging up there doubling as the lighting.. cool! 

Magnificent display.

On 7/14/2022 at 6:57 PM, Lolicon said:

Nice! What else do you need to complete the squadron?

Listen, I'm perfectly happy for you and your acquisition and I've always greatly admired the early iterations of Yamata - even the 1/60 scales, which I view as the modern precursor to the 1/48, themselves the precursor of the modern valkryie as we it today - but god, the yellowing on this guy is just terrible.  Makes me cringe just looking at it.  Are they all that way?  Is this just something that we have to live with now?  I thought modern collectors were immune to this sort of thing.  Instead I imagine us holed up with the rest of the vintage community biting our nails against the frosty, wintry cold of unforgiving time as it slowly devours our most cherished treasures.

On 8/14/2022 at 4:44 PM, nightmareB4macross said:

This took about 40 years to find complete with box, instructions, and sticker sheet.

The smallest transforming Voltron. 
 

Don’t mind the little plastic bits. I had to take a nipper to it or else this little guy would never move or combine. And yes it has articulation.

Sooo happy right now!
 

Awesome!

1 minute ago, jvmacross said:

The pandemic has done nothing to diminish how much I usually spend in a year on my Macross addiction.....it has, however, limited my need to get everything shipped to me ASAP.....if shipping prices drop down closer to pre-pandemic rates at some point in 2021....I will have an epic amount of stuff finally delivered....the only items I have delivered now are from Amazon Japan due to their low DHL shipping rates to the US....so glad they had a good arrangement with them even before the pandemic

I'll be honest, I've actually bought more this year than previous years, but I'm also a vintage collector and a lot of those have come up recently at great prices, which is not surprising given the state of the economy.

Curious to see what all of you think of the pandemic and its impact on toy collecting.  Definitely not soliciting your political opinions on the pandemic generally, so please keep that to yourself.  What I am interested in is how you think the impact on manufacturing and supply lines will/has impact[ed] toy collecting in general. 

At first I was thinking that the general renaissance in toy-making we've enjoyed over the last decade or two would slow to a trickle, and the toys of yore would become gems in our collection as they would no longer be producing them anymore, at least anywhere near the rate we were seeing before the pandemic started.  I think you definitely see this with the much higher end toys like Metal Structure (RX-93 discontinued, prices now through the roof), and you also begin to question whether some of the lower end toy lines like Hi-Metal R would be affected.  A series of planned releases never materialized (I'm thinking of the Destroids that were never completed).  Even the YF-21 was never released this year.  But then Bandai is notorious for teasers that never materialize (1/35 YF-1 anyone?), so I'm guessing that some of these never came to fruition this year is just "part of the game."  The thing is though that there were so many at once that just disappeared (the YF-21 is a particularly glaring omission considering its presence in the DX 1/60 line), but then again the 1/48 still seems to be going strong with the VF-1S, the flagship of the franchise, and the soon-to-be-released 1/48 VF-1D early next year.

All in all, I was initially impressed with the idea that toy manufacturing would suddenly come to a standstill and we would be left with our collections, as it were Mad-Max style, drifting in the desert wind and clinging to our hopes.  In such a posture, it is easy to imagine the value of these once prevalent items skyrocketing (like the Metal Structure), but after some thought, I'm not so sure.  We may just end up seeing a temporary hiccup, with production once again resuming unabated.

The other thought that occurred to me is that the toy renaissance is like any other - it builds on a steady stream of accumulated knowledge that, much like the 1/60 line of valkyries by Bandai, improves year over year.  If production is halted for a time, or even stopped altogether and resumed years later, it seems that that institutional knowledge could be lost to the deserts of time.  Although I think that's a bit more fanciful.  Something like that would take decades to lose (although perhaps a trick or two could be lost on the factory room floor).

10 hours ago, technoblue said:

Yeah. I guess it takes all kinds. For me, it's too early in the morning to try and decipher MacrossMania's purple prose. 

Well I hope this didn't kill the thread (it's gone distinctly silent since this was posted).  It was an interesting discussion and I thought I'd add my two cents because it's usually a dissenting voice, so I thought I'd flavor the conversation a little.  Wasn't expecting this response though.  Unsolicited recrimination is always a bit of a shock to the system, especially in a group like this with so much gregarious, fraternal feeling among its members.  Big words, I know, but you can handle them. 

Sorry I know opinions are boring on here, but the reissue YF-29 is like Apocalypse Now Redux, Godfather recut, resized and overdone.  Stars Wars refurbished in the Hollywood CGI laboratories when the puppets were good enough.  I'm sorry to say this but the original is frankly a masterpiece, and all this bumbling about with resized, reshaped and ultimately overdone "modular"-looking sculpt-work detracts from the stunning form and design of the original.  It was the seamless transition of the lines, the sheer beauty and line work.  Truly a sight to behold.  This one doesn't hold a candle to the original.  

I am prone to raining on people's parades (and not to detract from the thrill of the hunt as a collector), but it needs to be said.  Behold the original! 

On 3/28/2020 at 10:57 PM, Grey728 said:

So I asked everyone to share but I've been too ashamed to show my display. Here's my bedroom that I subject my wife to. Trying hard not to have it creep into the living room but I think it's inevitable haha.

I mean holy crap!  I have a small sampling of every shelf here.  This basically contains a who's who of modern toy collecting.  I could only wish I had this much.  That said, I'm eminently satisfied with my small sampling, given what it is.  But wow, this is just a great collection.  An obvious devotion to the craft.  Well done.

20 hours ago, jvmacross said:

 

 

Nailed 'em!

May as well make it an official MW game.....you pose....we find and name the episode and post the corresponding frame sequence from the show!

Next!  

Your poses are excellent and I couldn't match them.  But I have to say that there's a major assist here from Bandai.  It always amazes me that they seem to capture the spirit of respective anime franchises more than any other toy company.  Truly amazing.  Hats off to you both.

2 hours ago, Bahamutzyro said:

PCS 1/4 venger!

scary indeed

On 2/11/2020 at 4:34 PM, Mazinger said:

That's how you know you have a problem, but even if there was a 12-step program for Macross collecting, I doubt any of would ever submit to it.

This website is the 12 step program.  Hi, my name is... and I'm an addict. It's how every meeting begins here at Macross Anonymous.

On 2/1/2020 at 2:32 PM, Saburo said:

Why he's the reigning king in the valkyrie wars.

Well, this getting to be an expensive hobby...