Arthurius

22 hours ago, sh9000 said:

It's available to preorder from Nin-Nin-Game for 12870 JPY with private warehouse and pay later option.

https://www.nin-nin-game.com/en/hi-metal-r/122609-hi-metal-r-macross-7-vf-19-custom-excalibur-fire-valkyrie-bandai-spirits-.html

Thank you very much, preordered from there.

I just found out today that there was preorders for the VF-19 Kai, so obviously i missed out on a preorder, and this is a big one for me as need in my collection (was sad i had to sell my 1/60th, but needed to downsize, and 1/100 is the perfect scale for me)

Need recommendations.

Wait for Mandarake?  Wait for 1 month before release and check in every day with CD Japan and HLJ and Amiami?

Thanks in advance.

Which shops will you guys be using?

Where will you guys get your HMR of this when preorders go live?

Is CD Japan a good place for great price on this?  I have bought some SH Figuarts figures from them, and they were good, but nothing Macross, and havent bought any Macross for a few years now.., but want of the VF-0a and later on, the VF-19 Kai.   I live in Canada, and prefer to avoid HLJ as it tends to get duty / tax charged vs Amiami for example.  Thanks in advance.

Man, i am so hyped for this Movie.  Hoping i can get my hands on some nice articulated figures of Mile / Gwen / Peter from the 2nd movie, but i am late to the party and no PO open at HLJ / Amiami /AE, and not wanting to buy from US etailers that are much more expensive for me.

19 hours ago, Big s said:

If all the Japanese sites sell out, then often American sites have them available. Try Entertainment Earth or Big Bad Toy Store or USA Gundam Store. Just remember that they will get product later and have higher price attached. But if you’re in a pinch and totally missed out on something you really really want, then at least there’s an option 

17 hours ago, no3Ljm said:

Here's some links to the US stores:

https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/230018?o=4

https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/230019?o=4

https://www.entertainmentearth.com/product/spiderman-across-the-spiderverse-spiderman-miles-morales-shfiguarts-action-figure/blfbas63989

https://www.entertainmentearth.com/product/spiderman-across-the-spiderverse-spidergwen-shfiguarts-action-figure/blfbas63988

Thanks guys.  I live in Canada, so US etailers would not be an option for me, as they charge alot more in Duty / Freights then it would be from Asia.  Other than HLJ / Amiami / Anime Export, are there other asian etailers you guys buy figures from with success?

Which shops do you typically try to get preorders for SH Figuarts figures on Preorder, when HLJ / Amiami / Anime Export are sold out?

I am late to the party and would really like to get the SH Fig Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy for the new movie coming out.

In robot mode, does this one look as pristine and awesome as the vf2ss (without armour) and vf1s?

Ok, i guess i would only be interested in the VF-0S or VF-0A by itself.  I wouldnt put the extra armor on it anyways (as i have removed it from my Macross 2).  I probably favor the VF-0S over 0A as i like the white on my white shelves, but i love grey too, cant lie... ;).  Probably would not be interested in 2 seaters VF-0, just plane old VF-1S and VF-0A, simple, nice in all modes. 

That said, would have liked the VF-1D 2-seaters Max tv wedding style...

Probably dont care about anything else past these 2 series until a +/7, ie YF-19 / YF-21... VF-19 Kai or Blazzer / VF-22 Max or black one

Oh, and dont care about anything other than HMR line... I like small Macross bots and i cannot lie

1) can someone give me the link for this video of the VF-0S?

2) you guys super excited for an October release?  That is like decades away for me... tons of things can happen in between now and then... I cant even think beyond June / July right now.

I would for sure remove the head and pop back on.  I would remove anything possible actually, if i know which ones can come off, and repop in.  And I dont care for perfect transformation at all, i just want it gone from mode to mode without any hindrance...

Anyways, is she worth transforming?  Is it much better looking in cyclone mode then bike?

I am currently hesitating transforming my Fuke cyclone from the bikers mode and see it potentially break.  I really do like posing her, and even her helmetless head looks okay to me now.  I know i paid twice a figma figure that doesnt transform, but... it is a pretty nice "figma" figure nonetheless ;).  Maybe i need to see more videos of her in cyclone mode before i make up my mind, and i have a feeling if I do transform her, i may want to keep it that way, though then i wont be able to re-use the helmetless head anymore which has also it's charm, and will need the stand.

Finally, anyone else have trouble with the stand for the bike itself?  The port on the bottom of the bike doesnt work for me to fit with port of the stand, but it does fit with the figure itself to hold her for flying mode...  Not sure i am doing something wrong.

Personally I dislike seing the comments such as "you dont like it, dont buy it"... and yes, it is INSULTING towards the other purchasers that read it.

fantastic job Mog, wow, truly amazing.

Got her yesterday, and...

Yes she is Pink... but... I still love her aesthetics... Its not perfect for the price, but not that bad either that i have regrets of getting her at all, quite happy actually, but yes, red would have been better.  I would still pick it again if having to decide between this version and the black camera girl version when choosing only one.  Ideal would have been flat red or flat metallic (sparkly) red.

Yes, its not the best facial expression or eyes size on helmetless head... but... I still love her aesthetics with it...  it is quite usable still, and happy to at least have the extra head.  I may get eye decals if i can find any eventually, not sure where to look, but if not, no biggy, just that i would have liked a more happy and joyful face expression with bigger funny eyes.

Yes, its glossy surface vs prefered flat... but... I still love her aesthetics... not perfect at all for the price, but, damn its still very nice.

Havent transformed her yet, not sure i will or when i will, just going to enjoy posing and playing in bike mode and using the display stand for a while,, with different head options.  It's quite good for posing as is.  Not sure how much it will add to transform her, but will decide later..  Still very happy with my purchase, unless i break her while transforming 😛

I am ok with the face with helm, but the one without looks like they took one of the other existing heads from the other riders and just added blonde hair...

The test shot look more pristine then the final product.  Hopefully just the camera / lighting....

13 hours ago, Mog said:

Do I get a prize if I have a lower price than anyone else?

And do i get a prize for paying more than everyone else here?

Damn, i paid 186 USD shipped to Canada from HLJ...  and that is using Fedex, not even DHL...  argg, i dont know why i POed from HLJ all those month ago, maybe easier to cancel, cant remember, but oh well.

Well, only been waiting for 15+ years for this moment...  to finally own the Fuke/Rook ride armor, and kinda getting excited. 

This will probably be my last "super expensive" (over 200USD), and apparently from some of the comments over priced, collectible i ever add to my collection (well, 2022 at least...).  Only other toy i own from this company is their Iron Giant, which i LOVE LOVE LOVE.

4 hours ago, vladykins said:

In HLJ private warehouse and DHL shipping paid for.

Same, but trying out Fedex to see how it goes with that method of shipping.

20 hours ago, no3Ljm said:

That's ok. I think everyone is just anxious for this release. But what's exactly a 'Cyclone'? 

 

Kidding aside, most online Japanese shops still says April release. With all the things that's going on lately when it comes to productions and schedules, hopefully this one will not get delayed anymore.  

 

So currently May 2022, huh, ok, good to know that is sort of original expectations, which may get delayed.  I have my preorder up with HLJ, but wondering if i should switch to a China located one like Show Z, to avoid Tax / Duty, as i live in Canada.  It will probably be a few extra months of wait though...lol.   Also, there is mandarake that may have one available at release, and not caring about boxes, that might work for me.  Lets see, who knows, i might not be patient by then...

I stopped all collection of my 3rd party Transformers until i can get my Hooket, as it was the 1 figure I wanted back when 3 - 4 companies were making these and they almost all stopped when they got to Hooket...

dont mind me, just waiting on news / release of RED Cyclone...

been dry for me personally on any purchases of collectible for at least 8 months now, awaiting this one basically... yeah, feels long even for an "ex" plastic addict such as myself

Is the VF-1S just a reprint, or is it a new version / engineering?

Question on the Riobot cyclones.   Are they fully painted, and is the quality of the paint in terms of staying on the figure fantastic?  Also, is there any bits of die cast in them?

I have the Riobot Iron Giant, and paint quality / built / die cast are really good.  And when joints get loose, i apply Fix Loose Joints, and gets tight again.  Wondering how the Cyclones are.

I would like other companies trying out.   I am thinking something along the scales of Megahouse or Riobot, but maybe without the paint and detachable parts like the 1/100 Bandai HMR line for comparison (ie like the Megahouse), to lower the price, and make material stronger / less prone to breakage.  Perfect transformation is not necessary for me .

1 hour ago, Mog said:

Short answer:  Yes, but there are things to be cautious about.

Some parts do have a tendency to pop off.  But most are ball-and-socket joints, so it’s just a matter of popping them back into place.

Getting the hip armor to separate from the bike (or pushed back into the bike) can be a scary moment, but there’s a tip probably about 100 to 200 pages back in this thread about how to properly do it.

And unfortunately, there have been multiple reported incidents, where the joint that connects the rib plating(?) (best way I can describe it) has cracked or broke.  Thankfully haven’t had it happen to any of mine yet, but it is another area to be careful with.

1 hour ago, levzloi said:

 

What he said.  The engineering on these things is amazing, truly incredible.  However that means there is lots that can go wrong.  I'd personally decide which mode and pose you want to display it in, and then pose it and leave it.  Constant transforming back and forth is just asking for component failure. 

Thanks guys.

So normally i dont transform "much" (well, this not much can be considered ALOT by many).  Just in the beginning, i will usually want to do 2 - 3 transformation, then leave it, and maybe transform once every 6 to 12 months (sometimes longer). 

I never had the Arcadia Macross toys, only the Yamato versions, and i was fine with the 1/48th VF-1, 1/60th VF-0 (v1) / yf-19 / vf19 / yf21 molds, generally anyways.  I have also been fine with all my 1/100 bandai VF-1 HMR, though honestly, they havent been transformed much at all...  I have transformed my FT toys about 3 - 4 times when getting them, then every few months.  The only Riobot figure i currently own is the Iron Giant, which is fantastic, but no transformation. 

It is just that the choice on acquiring this figure means alot of sacrifice on my end, can only do one, and hoping to do some transformation every few months, but if i cant, i cant, will have to decide which mode i prefer, and it would be rider mode (would have been for the other characters anyways), but it is just that both modes soooo awesome looking in pictures, and cant decide.

So can these Riobot cycles actually transform back and forth without issues? 

I wouldnt be getting two, and although i might not have cared as much to transform the previous riders into armored mode, i do very much love the look of the armored mode for Houquet.  I would probably still very much just like the bike and figure itself though.