Lord_Of_Tetris

This review has persuaded me to buy this stuff. Gonna use it on my Wei-Jiang/Fire Scorpion Bumblebee-movie Optimus Prime!

I've got to go with the SV-262. I'm not the biggest fan of Macross Delta (the anime), but there's so much to appreciate about the SV-262.

A nontraditional transformation scheme not just for Macross, but for just jet transforming robots in general. 

A fascinating one-engine appearance in jet mode (even though it's really two engines).

Such a menacing Anubis-inspired head.

A Gerwalk mode that looks a lot like a Glaug.

And just a very interesting nontraditional jet that looks like it can actually fly. It actually reminds me a lot of the Batwing (Batman's jet), and the pointy ears in robot mode make it totally seem like something Batman would build for himself if he wanted a transforming jet.

The toy...uh...I mean, it's okay, I guess. The toy certainly does many things correctly. Gorgeous tampo. Certainly, it looks impressive in each mode. I love that the gun can swivel down and function like a turret. Even the microscopic little pilot figure is gorgeous, and looks nothing like other pilot figures in Macross toys. I love that such a beefy robot fits into such a slim jet with such a smooth belly. Seriously, there's barely any robot kibble down there. 

However, it has such a baffling, over-engineered transformation, it's ridiculous. Practically every transformation joint that could/should have been one hinge is, instead, several moving parts whose alignment needs to be exact.

The transformation reminds me of FansToys' recent releases. I'm sure the engineering makes perfect sense in a computer 3D model where you can perfectly "move" things around without pesky physics getting in the way, but once you have to actually put it into physical form, it's like nobody played with it before releasing it. There are so many moments where I practically screamed, "The ONLY way I can do what the manual asks me to do is if this part goes through that part!" (which, again, is totally something you can do in a 3D model on a computer). I've never actually been able to fully transform my DX Chogokin SV-262 back into jet mode. I mean, I've transformed it back into jet mode many times, but I've never been able to replicate the tightly-pegged, completely seamless jet as it was out of the box. But, darn it, I love the jet mode so much, I begrudgingly bought another one to keep in jet mode. My first SV-262, I use that one to transform back and forth between robot and Gerwalk mode.

The DX Chogokin SV-262 hurts because, one whole year prior to its release, Bandai released a transforming model kit of the SV-262. The model kit wasn't perfect, either, but its transformation scheme makes so much more sense than the DX Chogokin. Am I saying I want a fancy shmancy expensive DX Chogokin to be a mere upscale of a relatively inexpensive model kit? Uh...I mean...not really, per se, but this is one case where a freaking model kit does a transformation better than the much-bigger and much more expensive action figure. I mean, how often can you even say that? Plus, the VF-31 uses the same transformation scheme for the model kit and the DX Chogokin, so if it ain't broken, why "fix" it?

If the DX Chogokin SV-262 was the only SV-262 toy in existence and there was no model kit.....eh......it would still be an over-engineered but gorgeous figure. So beautiful, but so poorly engineered, much like the VF-171 toys from Macross Frontier. 

No, SV-262 isn't my favorite transforming jet design. No, I'm not even saying Bandai's SV-262 DX Chogokin is the worst transforming Macross toy. But what I am saying is that the "How cool should the toy be be?" to "How cool is the toy?" ratio is sky-high with the SV-262.

Awesome photos! But what does “gallery walk” mean?

There was censorship? What was censored?

Bought a used (but like new!) Bandai DX VF-1S from @max928. The price was great! Better than the cheapest price I could find on eBay. The figure itself is mint condition. He provided a shipping number and the package arrived in 2 days. Quick to respond to communications. I highly suggest doing business with this fine seller!

I just received my VF-1S figure. It's pretty awesome! But it's looking naked without missiles.

Do the old Yamato 1/48 missiles work on the Bandai version? The hard points do look rather similar. I'm wondering if it's worth it to dig up my old 1/48 Yamato stuff.

I apologize if this has been asked before. I only just received my figure today, and I'm grossly out of date on current events. Thanks.

Random question. Are Hi-Metal 1.0 Strike and Fast parts compatible with Hi-Metal R VF-1s? And, are Hi-Metal R Strike and Fast parts compatible with Hi-Metal 1.0 VF-1s?

Just wanted to brag: LOOK WHAT I BOUGHT USED FOR $70 AND SHIPPING!

I didn't want to risk breaking the hand by squeezing the rifle in there, so here is the Nemesis Prime version of TE-01 holding the rifle:

I just purchased a Hi-Metal R VF-4 from spacemanoeuvres. and I'm very happy with the transaction. Clear communications, quick response time, good price, and provided shipping information. Thanks, @spacemanoeuvres!

Is this still available?

I have one in Percival colors. I was fairly apathetic to which version of the YF-29 I bought, I just knew I wanted the least-expensive one I could find. I have no regrets about choosing Percival's colors. My rationale: I have enough Macross toys in Isamu's colors (Arcadia YF-19, Bandai VF-19 Advance, Bandai YF-19, Hasegawa's YF-19, etc), and I wanted something more unique-looking.

To anyone that has theirs already: How necessary is it to detach the legs? Does keeping the legs attached on the bar completely negate hip articulation?

Uh. It really doesn't fill me with confidence that those images for the VF-31J KO preorder are actually of Bandai's 1/72 model kit...

8 hours ago, tekering said:

It's called "suspension of disbelief."  

Actually, the figure is comprised of 30 separate parts, for ease of painting.  

 

Oooooooh, cool, whew. I feel stupid. It was late last night, and I thought the blue orb was the WHOLE pilot figurine. BAHAHAHAHA.

I find it ironic that the pilot figure is so many pieces, for ease of painting, yet large portions of the jet are one solid piece. It looks like the "heads" are the top 1/4 of the head and it's the same piece as the fuselage, which will make it very difficult to paint.

On 11/25/2018 at 7:47 PM, tekering said:

 

The DYRL pilot figure included is molded in Roy's colors -- matching the stickers -- but there's nothing specific about the sculpt; you can paint him any color and call him whoever you want.  Stickers only include Roy's name under the cockpit canopy, however.

Uh. Maybe I'm missing something. In what way is this a pilot figurine? I just see a blue orb of some sort with a peg on it.

Uh. The plot thickens. The original poster seemingly returned and deleted all of his earlier posts.

The other one went to me!

So uh. I know I'm late to the party. But, uh, I just got my Bandai DX YF-19. The head laser is just fine (yay!), but one of the tail fins falls off if you so much as stare at it. Has anyone found a solution to this problem?

I purchased a Bandai DX YF-19 from @max928, and I had a GREAT experience. Fast to respond to messages, very clear in his communications. He provided a tracking number, and I received the package in two days. The item was as described. The packaging was AMAZING. A lot of padding, there was bubble wrap, and the head laser arrived intact! His price was also INSANELY good. I highly recommend this seller.

Question. Anymoon's review says:

"Both the VF-19Advance and YF-19 come with very stiff hips that have led to people breaking them. I encourage you during your first transformation to unscrew the two screws on the hip and then remove the housing and loosen the two screws you’ll find underneath it. Doing this will make completing transformation easier and make it less likely you’l break your toy’s hip some day. "

Can someone demonstrate this with photos? I ordered a YF-19. It hasn't arrived yet, but I want to be ready when it arrives.

Whew! I'm glad it's only going to be more-or-less the cost of a VF-2SS HMR. I got the $300 price tag from one of the first posts in this thread that had a price tag on it.

Speaking of which, why does that post have a price tag of $300?

On 10/26/2018 at 2:51 PM, no3Ljm said:

Chronocidal posted this from the previous page.

 

First of all, what figure are you talking about that has the price tag of $300? If you're talking about the upcoming VF-4 Lightning III, then FYI the price for that is Y12960.

Unless, you're planning on buying two, then yes, you might hit the $300 mark.

 

On 10/26/2018 at 2:51 PM, Atheonyirh said:

Where did you get the idea that it costs $300? It's 12,960 jpy IIRC, or roughly $115.

On 10/23/2018 at 7:38 AM, treatment said:

 

Looks a bit blue/greyish.

Hopefully the retail-release coloring will be in bright-white.

 

 

Are these the Renewal versions? And free bump for you!

So...uh...is it really going to be $300? I had no problem paying ~$150 for a Hi-Metal R VF-2, but that was really pushing it.

If this costs $300, that's more than a DX Chogokin VF-31 figure...

It seems that Bandai is using the same marketing tactics of the third-party Transformer companies, which reveal frustrating "teaser" images that are intentionally blurred, pixelated, or ridiculously zoomed in so all you see is, like, a hinge and a joint.

That figure could be anything. Tekkaman Blade?

Hmm. Personally, I think the VF-31 is the best engineered transforming jet toy I've ever handled, but I also admit it's not my favorite design.

With some of the more-recent Valkyrie designs, it really doesn't look like it should be able to fly. For example, the YF-19 and VF-31, in Gerwalk mode, have their wings connected to the body of the jet by some very-thin wing kibble. I'm fine with suspension of disbelief, but if I think too hard about it, it looks like flying too fast or making too sharp a turn would snap off the wings. By contrast, the VF-1's wings (in Gerwalk mode) are connected to the body just as strongly as the connection in fighter mode, and so it looks like something that can actually fly and maneuver.

The insect-like design is...eh...an acquired taste. When I first saw the head of Messer's VF-31F, my first thought was, "What? I'm NEVER buying that...Waspinator-like...THING." Shrug. It's now one of my favorite Valkyrie head designs. I like the uniqueness. It still reminds me of Waspinator, but hey, Waspinator is awesome, so...shrug. 

The large wing kibble is...eh...something I can live with. For better or worse, the Macross jet designs don't transform the wings, per se, but more like the wings fold away somewhere. (To illustrate: Studio Series Starscream transforms the wings in various places, and Starscream's robot mode doesn't have huge chunks of wing kibble hanging off it). The Valkyries that best fold away the wings (in my opinion) are the VF-17, YF-21, and VF-11. Pretty much every other Valkyrie has a huge wing kibble problem.

The VF-0, VF-1, and VF-2 have the wings folded up in the back like a large board. The animation cheats it with some mass-shifting wings, but even then, seeing such a large wing backpack on a toy makes it look very impractical. The YF-19 has huge wing kibble on its thighs. It looked cool in the 1990s, and it still looks cool today, but having it on a toy really shows you how impractical it is.

Seems pretty easy in combat to, say, grab the YF-19's wing kibble and tear it off the thigh and bam, it can't fly anymore. Heck, it seems pretty likely in combat to accidentally break off the YF-19's wing kibble.

The VF-31's wing kibble...eh...isn't that much worse than most other Valkyries. It's impractical, but not moreso than the VF-1 with a board behind its thighs, or the YF-19 with huge kibble that can break off or an enemy can grab. It looks to me that it's pretty easy to shoot at a VF-31, miss, but hit the huge wing kibble. Bam, can't fly anymore. 

But.....ehhhh..........I'm pretty good at suspending my disbelief. I don't mind impractical designs if it at least looks cool. I don't need mecha to actually look like real combat machines (though that would be nice), as long as it looks convincing enough in the animation.

I grew up with Transformers, Gundam, and Robotech. Off the top of my head, I have no problem with Starscream, Blitzwing, or the Arialbots walking around with gigantic wing kibble on their backs. Shrug. It looked cool. Omega Supreme walked around with half-circles of train tracks on his shoulders, but it looked cool. Plus, have you seen certain Gundams? Wing Zero Custom's angel wings. Yikes! Seems like any sensible bad guy army should just bum-rush Wing Zero Custom and tear off its wings, but nobody ever does. My point is, I'm willing to look the other way if the robot looks cool and convincing enough, and I think the VF-31 passes that test.

Plus, the positioning of the VF-31 wing kibble kind of reminds me of the Hyaku-Shiki from Z Gundam.