Slave IV

Wow, thats interesting you used a similar method to transform without noticing it. Makes me wonder if the designers only meant for it to relive stress when pulling without pressing it down? Knowing how thoughtful they were, they probably would have designed a button top or something to make it more obvious and easy to press. On another note, now that some of us know it’s there, it seems like it enables an easy way to fix the toy if you have a loose connection there. Like I said, I don’t have the issue on any of mine but I know I’ve played with many that did. Should be fairly easy to either replace or reposition the spring, if that is the issue or 3D print the clip if it is worn. It wouldn’t work if the tab on the fuselage is broken so I’m curious what the typical failure point is on those who have loose ones.

Thanks for finding all these references! Yes, he doesn’t mention it but he does appear to be using the mechanism the way betsuni pointed out (it was all him, not me). I figure it was something someone else had to know about but I’ve just never heard about so it’s just another little detail that further enhances what I consider the best toy ever made. Yep, thanks for the additional details! Even though none of my chunkys are loose and I didn’t know about the feature, I guess I was always careful enough when transforming. Also, the genius design of it gives it a lot of tolerance and precision at the same time for it to work with minimal wear even if you don’t press the spring down to release.

Ok, yeah, it doesn’t “launch” the tab out with spring action like the missiles in the gunpod😂. It just releases it so you don’t have to use force to pull it out. But as you mentioned, it was also probably designed to reduce stress and breakage even if you don’t press down to release.

I don’t have any Takatoku or early Bandai chunkys easily accessible to see but from the pictures I’ve looked at and SH saying he has it on his Jetfire, I’m assuming it must have been an original design that was on all of them. You can see in this picture that @jvmacrossshared of his Strike Valk, that it seems to have the same design. So that tab sticking out, push from the top (above it) down (towards the black screw) and you should notice it is spring loaded. I’m definitely also curious if it is not on some versions. Again, that would be very interesting since every write up I’ve seen that mentions differences in the various releases has never made any mention of that clip and if they were aware of it, surely thy would have mentioned the existence or non existence of it.

Ok, I’m not sure if I can post a video as easy as photos here but I think I can explain. See the top part circled in this picture? That tab that locks into the hole in the fuselage circled below it, is spring loaded. From the perspective of this picture, you could push up on it. When transforming to Battroid like in the videos you posted, you can see the same tab from a top view through the door that the head fits through and you can press down on it to make tabbing it in easier, and when transforming from Battroid mode, you can open the door and press down on it to release the tab without forcing anything. It’s definitely not obvious unless you know it’s there, which is what makes it another insanely cool feature that I went decades not knowing. I hope that makes more sense now.

Exactly! @betsuni is the only person I've ever seen mention that when transforming from battroid mode, you can open the back door and press down on the spring loaded latch for easy release. I'm wondering who else knew that because I sure didn't and not ashamed to admit it.

I edited my post after you quoted but once again, not a single one of those mentions specifically the spring loaded nature of the clip and that you can press down on it to release. They only mention the clip in part, which I think is obvious and the part that is kind of mind blowing is the easy release part that no one mentions.

I get you don’t have to take it apart. Not really a feature if that was the case. I meant it makes sense someone who took the whole toy apart would notice it. Either way, thanks for sharing the video. That is the only other time I’ve seen it mentioned now. Edit: After watching it again and listening to the translated version, he doesn't mention the spring loaded feature at all. Just that you need to clip that part in, which you never need to know about the feature to do. He doesn't transform back from Battroid mode where it could be mentioned that you can press down on that part to release the clip.

That makes sense if you are taking the whole thing apart. Only parts I ever took apart are the shoulders to fix the ratchets and the cockpit as part of the intended shield swap. Luckily never had problems besides the shoulder on any of mine and I don’t like to paint or alter my toys. Still interesting I’ve never heard it mentioned before, even in the instructions.

Posting this information I saw on TFW and got permission from the OP (@betsuni) to repost here. Original Post on TFW. Just wondering how many people here knew about this feature? So I discovered something new to me on the old VF-1 1/55 design after I don't know how many decades of owning one (and playing with my old VF-1A as a kid to the point where the front landing gear won't stay locked in). There is a clip that is there to firmly attach the "back" of the Battroid! You can unclip it by pushing down on it when flipping out that back panel instead of trying to pop it out. This new found knowledge makes this thing an insanely awesome toy. It is super solid now in Battroid mode. I am a two-time, undefeated Chunky transformation champion, who has owned and been playing with these things since they came out, and I have never noticed this or heard it mentioned until it was just pointed out in that thread. The clip part, yes, but that it has a spring loaded release, nope!

=== 1). Maximum uploads of 3 pictures of a toy even if you bought two. That means if you bought DC Batman you can post a combination of boxed and opened pics of up to three here. Anymore than three will get the post deleted. If you bought another copy of the same DC Batman toy that does not constitute as a different toy and does not earn you three new photos. The moderation team considers that spamming and will be deleted. Text link to an external photo gallery if you have more than three pictures to share. 2). Image size: Height maximum per toy will now be set to 2400pixels for 3 pictures combined. That means one high resolution picture at 2400pixels or three decent resolution picture of 800pixels each.

Haha, that's why I never sell anything unless I have extra. But that's also why my house is basically a warehouse, which is another form of idiocy, lol!

Saw this in a shop window recently.

The ultimate VF-1 set. If I was to only have 1 VF-1 toy, this would be the one to have. Funny thing is I don't have one and I like Roy's color way better but there is no better all-around package than this one. I just settle with having hundreds of other Valks instead for now.😅

Ok, thanks for the clarification!

Nice I thought I remember reading something like that and still never got around to trying. Now, do they work on Arcadia VF-0s too?!

Nice! How was the fit there? Any modification needed?

No worries, I was just wondering which you were talking about and good eye! It is the KO of the Yamato suit! And like I said, I was thinking of waiting for the possible 3Z release but after putting the suit on this figure, I realize it may not even fit the 3Z since it does really fit like a glove. Wonder if anyone has tried fitting it or wants to try if they have either version of the suit and a 3Z valk? Haha, I noticed that as I was reviewing the pics and someone else also pointed that out but too lazy to do a better setup or retake the pics so it can remain a fun easter egg.

Original show or original Yamato release? Either way, I'm really happy to finally have the set together. I've had the suit for a few years and no proper Valk to wear it.

I was planning to wait for 3Z to release one of these but not sure if /when that would ever happen and this was cheaper anyways so I finally got a 1/60 Max 1A to add to the collection: And one of the main reasons I wanted one was because I had this suit waiting for it for years:

That was for the armor ejection gimmick😉

I was about to ask if that stand was included in an official release since I've never seen it before.

I preordered those around 3 or more years ago. Finally cancelled the order and got a refund earlier this year or maybe last year. Either way, the timeline of those are in years so they gave up on that initial release and moved on to more profitable ventures as we see with the Jetfire release

Clever trick! Thanks for sharing.

Is that an adapter to use Tamashii stages for Air Fighter Collection models?