HardlyNever

In before the lock...

Anyhow, I second Arkham's suggestion of a vf-1s super/strike.  It was my first modern Macross toy, and while they aren't cheap, it doesn't disappoint.  The Focker release was still available well after release, but it seems like it is starting to dry up.  NY has the Hikaru release, but that is pretty steep for the non-premium version.  Shop around some of the second-hand shops for a better deal.

Couple words of warning:

1.  I thought the arcadia vf-1s would be the beginning and end of my modern collecting.  It wasn't.

2.  If you go with the vf-1s super/strike, you are kind of starting at the cream of the crop (at least for SDFM/DYRL macross), so it will be hard to top that release.  However, there are still a lot of fun toys after that (look at the Hi-Metal R line).

42 minutes ago, Slave IV said:

Tomahawk looks pretty good...I liked M.U.S.C.L.E figures back in the day but have no need for these.

Yeah, I actually liked muscle figs back then too.  Was around the same time I was watching Robotech/macross.  But these seem entirely out of place.  MUSCLE was mass-market disposable stuff.

This is mass-market disposable product aimed a very niche, almost entirely high-end market (now-a-days, at least).  Not sure what they are thinking with this.

5 hours ago, arbit said:

Please Bandai, anything other than another VF-1 repaint.

This is where I'm at.  I'm even skipping the VE-1, hoping for a re-release from Arcadia.  If I don't hear anything in the next few months, maybe I'll pick up an HMR one.

But I'm pretty tired of the HMR vf-1, and I only have 3.

Bring on the enemy mecha.

This doesn't look like something you want to handle a lot, with all those little paint apps.  That's fine with me, as this is pretty much the definition of a shelf-queen imo.

Looks like they used this shot as inspiration for the Regult:

Can't say that is a flattering version of the Regult.

1 hour ago, Sanity is Optional said:

I wish the missile set came with the stands.

Yeah, I missed them first, too.  They should be taped under the side of the tray, one on each side.

14 hours ago, sh9000 said:

Checked my Regults and none of them have loose joints.  I haven’t opened and checked the Regult that I bought from spanner a long while back but I’m sure it’s fine too.

Good to know.  I guess it is just bad QC from Bandai on the missile regults.

13 minutes ago, easnoddy said:

I can't figure out how to attach the 2SS with SAP to a stage stand?  Any help?

Which mode?

It plugs in behind the swing-bar thingy that you move over the head in gerwalk mode.  Jenius' video shows how to do it without SAP here, but it is the same spot with SAP, you just don't have to move the big white tab that comes out of the backpack.

2 hours ago, Sanity is Optional said:

Since everyone I see reporting it has it on only one of their 2, and it even seems to be the same one, I suspect it's a manufacturing issue.

Not trying to be pedantic, but just to offer some clarity.  

I've seen people report the problem on both versions now.  I think you said your light missile regult had the problem, whereas my heavy missile regult has the issue.  I think I've seen other people mentioned heavy and light having the issue.  I does seem to be either one or the other, not both in the pack?  Could be wrong on that one, but I don't think someone has mentioned both having bad knees.

We're probably chasing a wild goose at this point anyhow.  But if I had another set, I don't think I'd be letting them sit in the package, just saying. 

6 minutes ago, no3Ljm said:

I doubt the packaging is the cause. Like the last time I posted here, one of the screw on my VF-2SS thigh hinges got loose. And the VF-2SS was packed in a straight Battroid mode stance. Just sayin'.

 

What I mean is that maybe leaving it in the crouched pose for extended periods of time is bad for the knee joints.  I'm not really sure how long they sat around like that before actually being shipped to retailers (and then to us).  I know QC issues happen, but this seems rather wide-spread.

Or it could be totally unrelated.

1 minute ago, Sandman said:

Still too much though. I wonder if they are new in box. I looked everywhere on the listing to see if these were preowned. I didn't think hobby search did preowned toys.

"Fun" story.  Back in 2016 I purchased a v.1 super hikaru for like $150 shipped(it was my first modern Macross purchase).  I cancelled the order before it shipped luckily.  I didn't know exactly what I was buying and wanted to do some more research before committing.  Like the next day I realized what it was that I was buying, and found out Arcadia was releasing the v2 DYRL Roy in like a week.

So.. I was that guy, only worse in some ways (fortunately I didn't go through with it).

4 minutes ago, Sandman said:

Tired of insane Arcadia prices? Good news! Hobby Search has a restock on Yamato's VF-1As!

Max

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10022935

Hikaru

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10017059

 

 

But... they're version ones...

Super low prices, though.

1 hour ago, Sanity is Optional said:

One of mine, I think the light missile one, has a weak left-knee as well. Can't even stand up, has to crouch.

Since this seems to be such a common issue this early for this release, I'm wondering if the way the regults were packaged (all crouched into a ball) has something to do with it.

I got 1 original release regult, and it is starting to get some looseness in the knees, but that took months of display with a little bit of handling.  Seems like some of the missile regults are coming out of the box loose (I know one of mine was).

Word of warning for anyone swapping the wings out on the HMR vf-2ss.  The peg that the wings peg onto can come out of the metal housing that they rest in.  Luckily, nothing broke on my peg, and it just pegged back in, but I could definitely see those pegs as being a durability issue in the long-term.  I think the transformation video Bandai put out even has a caution for them.

8 hours ago, Roy Focker said:

Well my Regults arrived here last Friday but I wasn't home and wasn't able to pick them from the post office until today.  One of them has a problem.  It's knee joint is loose and doesn't want to standup.  If the stance isn't perfect the pod starts dragging down.

 

8 hours ago, Mommar said:

I have that same issue.

Yeah, one of my knees was loose right out of the box.  It isn't that bad (it can still stand in most poses), but it is disappointing to see that QC issue on a brand new toy.

I might have been slightly interested if this was a vf-0S with reaction armor bundle.  Just a premium finish vf-0S is a no-go for me. 

More than anything, I'm interested in seeing if Arcadia is going to continue making vf-1's, after Bandai's reveal of the "1/48ish" scale vf-1j.

I don't collect MISB, or ever intend to.  I've also wondered what the motivation is for people (particularly in this specific permutation of toy collecting)to do so, but ultimately, however someone enjoys the hobby is how they enjoy it; they don't have to justify it to anyone.  At the end of the day, we're all adults(mostly?) collecting toys, so trying to pretend why one version of collecting is better than another just seems silly.  We're all collecting plastic, and just have different ways of enjoying it.

All that said, if some of the MISB collectors ever want to send me their stuff, and I may or may not replace it with like a book or something inside the box and send it back, and you can keep pretending the actual toy is in there, then you'll help make the world an even happier place.  We can call it the schrodingers cat of Macross. 

40 minutes ago, Slave IV said:

Several reasons for me. I don't buy any one thing just to keep misb but I may buy several of one item because I've had things stolen before and in case of breakage. I also sometimes don't have to have every version of the same mold open so even though I plan to open everything at some point, I'm not in a hurry to open a VF-31J if I already have an open VF-31J Kai, 31F, and 31C. There is also the issue that I buy so much stuff that I don't have the time to open it all and some things get stacked away and forgotten until I go back through things. Another reason is having extra for my kids when they are ready is not a bad thing. Also, even though not everything is open, just to know I own them and they are still in pristine condition to enjoy anytime in the future is a satisfying feeling within itself. 

This sounds like one of those "good problems."  But at the same time, I'm glad this isn't me.

12 hours ago, borgified said:

My theory: Since that Max since was interested in Milla (in human form) and they started a relationship together, there is a possibility that Max has gotten interested in Zentradi/Meltrandi technology (through Milla), and that he wanted to experience to what is to be in Zentradi size. Milla had gotten a Q-Rau in the latter part of the movie for Max to use when macro-sized.

Sounds plausible?

 

I don't have a definitive answer or source, but I always thought Max was "enlarged" to zendradi/meltrandi size.  Since what happens is basically the reverse of what happens in the SDFM tv series, I figured they went all the way and made him big.  There isn't much screen time of him after the fight, so I don't know if there is a real way to tell just from the movie.  One of the people involved in production would have to say something about it, I guess (or maybe they already have).

Had a few hours with the missile regults and vf-2ss, so I guess I'll give my 2 cents here.  Love the missile regults, I was excited for them from the beginning, and they did not disappoint.  They seemed pretty easy to get right and bandai delivered.  It seems like they even tightened up the side thrusters on this release, which spun around too easily (imo) on the original release.  My only complaint is that one of my knees was kind of loose right out of the box (about as loose as the one I've had for months).  I was hoping they would solve that problem, but it looks like it will continue to be an issue for some of them.

For the vf-2ss, not a whole lot to say that hasn't already been said.  Transformation to fighter mode and back was surprisingly easy for a macross newbie like myself, probably in large part to how the thing only tabs together in a few spots, and just relies on a bunch of hinges to actually work.  Props to Bandai for even trying this thing, as the amount of anime magic involved in this design is really apparent when you get it in hand.  I think I like Gerwalk mode the best, overall.  My mini rant is about the stupid cannon on the SAP.  What an idiotic design.  I'm seriously considering a way to make the barrel removable.  You either have to have this giant thing sticking way out there, or have it down over the mech's face, in what is one of the dumbest poses I've ever seen in mecha anime.  I like the rest of the SAP, and the vf-2ss looks kind of naked without it, but I freakin' hate that cannon.

Late to the party, but my HMR stuff finally arrived from AE.  Loving the missile regults so far.

13 minutes ago, Gabe Q said:

I think I'm sold on the Regult set. Did I miss the boat? Can anyone point me in the right direction? I really want a set now.

NY has them: 

https://www.nippon-yasan.com/figures/21764-hi-metal-r-regult-missile-type-set-limited-edition.html

But you're paying a pretty steep premium compared to pre-order prices.  I'd also keep an eye on the For Sale forums here over the next few weeks, someone might let a set go.

5 hours ago, wmkjr said:

 

Anybody know what those markings mean on the regults? Is it a unit marking or ship? Translating it doesn't help.

 

4 hours ago, ScrambledValkyrie said:

I think we discussed the Regult markings back around PO time but I can't remember any conclusions. 

This.  I asked that same question when the pictures were first released.  We went through the Zentraedi "alphabet" and it didn't mean anything.  I think we just concluded that "it looked cool."  Bandai is also heavily influenced by this line art:

Which has those markings so... they put them on the toy.  Like others said earlier in the discussion, you rarely see that level of detail in the actual animation, so what they mean/where they come from is anyone's guess really. 

Looking at them again, I just noticed they have different markings on the leg around the "knee."  I wonder if that is intentional.  Too bad those didn't make it on to the toy.

55 minutes ago, spacemanoeuvres said:

Last night my dog bashed into one of my display shelves and sent Max flying down to the hardwood floor from about 5 feet off the ground.

Head, arm, super parts and a few other miscellaneous bits exploded off on impact but nothing broke!

Popped all of Max’s bits’n’pieces back on and he was as good as new  

Yeah the valks are pretty durable.  My Max fell off of the display stand from about 5 1/2 feet off the ground.  It landed on carpet, but stuff still came off.  Nothing was broken or bent, though, just missiles and super parts came off.

There is this pic from Jenius' website: