Knightdramon

I'll have to transform mine to double check, but I'm pretty sure the ball joint is at the end of that polygonal piece and you can move the entire arm without really interfering with the metal connectors next to the head.

up and down shoulder articulation would be nice too

I don't get what you're talking about. The toy can move at the shoulders up and down just like the VF-1S and YF-21 I have.

I guess I'll have to give it a try but I have no patience for any valk except for the VF-1, I especially have no patience for the VF-25 at all since its poorly engineered and super un-poseable.

The only point of articulation I would have asked for is a swivel on the upper thighs and MAYBE a ball joint with a wider area of movement for the hips. Everything else has all the articulation it needs, try posing the base model without the super packs and you'll get the feel of it. It's even got waist articulation!

Got my VF-25F with fast pack bundle the other day and...my opinion is mixed.

The base valkyrie is generally, great. Robust and sturdy, fun if you completely ignore the gerwalk mode and don't mind how the inner neck joint just sits there based on friction and gravity alone.

It LOOKS killer with the fast packs in battroid mode, but the damn things keep popping off no matter what I do. The side leg armour in particular pops off rather easily, and the hip armour is not the sturdiest of them. Attempting to transform it through its modes with the fast packs on will ruin your temper.

Also, I'm not a fan on how you have to swap the two pieces near the wings for fast packs mode or normal fighter. I don't even want to think how it would handle with the armour pack instead of fast packs, or what nightmare owners of Michel's\Luca's machines went through.

Aren't perfect transformation figures, generally, not just valks, figures that cycle through all their modes without the need to add\remove separate parts [except for maybe the guns and fixed pose hands]? It has nothing to do with lineart.

The nosecones of the 1/48 scale were removable for diorama or detail freaks, not because it prohibited the transformation. The GBP armour had two nosecone covers, but you could still transform it and armour it up without removing anything.

We haven't had a Yamato non perfect transformation valkyrie since their 1/60 ver.1 days, not sure what opinions you're trying to scrounge up here for 8 year old toys?

I'd just like to also mention, the yamato 1/48 vf-1 and the MP Convoy both came out in 2003.

Since then yamato has released the following all new molds:

1/60:

vf-0

sv-51

yf-19

yf-21/vf-22

vf-11

vf-1 ver 2.0

1/100 konig monster

not including 2 destroids, the Q-rau, a 2 seater version of the vf-1, GBP armor, and FAST packs.

Takara has released:

MP Seeker

MP Megatron

MP Grimlock

And just for kicks, lets include the RotF Prime.

4 high end, show accurate molds versus 7... Despite having a much larger fanbase, 2 hugely successful movies to ride coat tails on, several successful animated programs, a lower price point, international distribution and marketing, OWNING their own licenses, Takara has released fewer toys, the majority of those being released being simple repaints with less retooling than the difference between a vf-1s and vf-1j.

So... again... why does anyone think Takara would do a better job?

For all sakes and purposes, I'm "merging" Takara as it should be, with Hasbro. Everything after RID was a collaborative effort.

And they've released [an estimate] of around 200 new moulds [not counting repaints or even retools] since then in various lines. What you fail to understand is that transformers as a franchise is marketed to children, hence their mass-produced, 10-40 USD figures instead of the target group that Yamato\Macross franchise is trying to go for. Since collectors are also in their interest, there's lines like Binaltech, Alternity, Alternators and Masterpiece.

again...

MP SS, with jank landing gear, non detailed cockpit, non painted "pilot", a wing hinge that's practically designed to stress and crack, limited posability, fit issues in fighter mode.

MP Convoy, can't securely hold its own gun, top heavy, ratchet joints limit posability due to lack of incremental positions, poor QC, each reissue worse than the release before, compromised vehicle mode, fit issues.

MP Megs, a bot mode so compromised it makes the YF-21 battroid look perfect

MP Grimlock, little more than an upscaled version of the original G1 release.

Maybe Hasbro can do better, so far they have yet to prove it.

Sorry, I agree with you on almost all points except Starscream [love the mould, never really cared about how detailed the cockpit or the unpainted "pilot" is] and Grimlock.

Grimlock has a relatively simple transformation compared to, say, ROTF Optimus Prime or even his line-mate Starscream, but what do you guys think the VF-1 is in terms of transformation engineering?

25 years later each and every version transforms in almost the same way with minor differences and they're not that difficult, honestly. The SV-51 and VF-19 and onwards are a tad tricky, but the VF-1 is still simple.

You've got to understand [directed to VFTF-1's post] that what you said about transformers pretty much translates into what gundam is, for example. There's no WHAT IF things, just other stories. Like as there's always a Gundam prototype, a red\pink mobile suit that belongs to the antagonist and maybe moves 3 times faster\etc.

Macross as an anime does not rely on the fighter planes to tell the story, it relies on the characters and their interactions with whatever alien threat they're facing; which are almost all defeated by means of singing. The only exception is Macross Plus to this point.

Most transformers cartoons in Japan are dumbed down and aimed at young kids, sadly. The BW dub is horrible and has a much, MUCH lighter tone, Superlink is by far the most mature out of all the shows aired in Japan so far. Not sure what they did to the dub of BM. Bear in mind that besides BW, BM and Animated and partly G1, all other series were written, directed and aired in Japan, then got "imported" to the US and got dubbed [messing up the Galaxy Force series].

I'm guessing the topic creator sort of created a hasm between TF\Macross fans and "purebreed" Macross fans in this forum.

Almost read the whole thing...[besides the topic starter's replies because I wouldn't bother with the put-together sentences of a seemingly 9 year old]

You people do realize that you're being made fun of in almost every other anime\robot community for your insistence in line-art accuracy. Every other sentence in every other paragraph in every other reply in every thread is about making detailed valkyries with extreme line-art accuracy. Have you seen that on VF-1S [DYRL ver] the nosecone in batroid mode is slanting forward? The only line-art accurate toy for that I've seen so far is the revoltech valkyries.

Back on topic, I think the topic creator doesn't really know what he wants to ask for. I believe that current yamato valkyries are made of similar, if not the same plastic TYPES [not damn quality again] as most transformers. Check the boxes of your figures and usually there's a detailed [albeit in japanese] list of plastic types and other materials used. Most of those read POM, ABS which are two of the most common plastic types used for toys [my field is limited, though, to gundam models, macross, SOC and transformers].

Similarly, transformers fans get about 25-30 new moulds per year, while Yamato hasn't made a new base valkyrie mould since the VF-11B or VF-1S 2.0 [can't remember which came first]. The VF-22S figures count as retools, before you jump on me. For their 1/60 DX line, Bandai has made one mould [with the VF-27 being the second] with different head sculpts.

This thing about plastic quality is, I'm afraid, the bothersome child of TF fans back in 2007, when movie figures felt "cheaper". I've handled almost 70% of the 2007 movie line and all of its successors, and almost all Yamato macross figures [with the exception of the VF-11B]. Both are equally good, trust me.

VFTF-1, I don't know which figures you've handled, but with the exception of armada and energon, transformers figures became better with each line. Unless you had more around, I've noticed you sold your TF re-issue collection, which is, in my opinion, crappy 25 year old figures that wouldn't hold a candle to today's specimens. Not trying to start a war or anything, I'm just stating that.

Mine's on the way, hopefully I'll like it enough to justify the cash spend on it

It's a non-scale line, so stop trying to find one.

If helpful, all figures stand between 12.5-15 centimetres tall.

The belly plates on mine connect as much as the first pictures logos posted, I'm going to try later on to see if I can get them as the second set. Didn't know that the fingers grasping the ankles in "stoaway" mode made that much a difference...

Just got the bird today, it's a really solid offering IMO. The instructions could be shorter as I mostly transformed mine from gerwalk to battroid without looking at them, plus having some limbs\belly covers popped off in the booklet didn't really help me make out the poor B\W photos.

It looks killer in all modes [did not expect to like gerwalk] but putting it back to fighter mode was underwhelming. Are there supposed to be any "gaps" on the sides [mostly in the forearms-shins resting area] when put back? Also, are the belly covers in any sample locking firmly together in place? Mine always leave a small, almost unnoticeable gap [especially with the fastpacks], and squeezing them together just unsecures the locking tabs for the thrusters area.

Any guideline pictures of the sides\back when in "perfectly transformed" fighter mode would be aces, thanks!

I'm not that worried. The prices tend to get a bit crazy but look at the product in return.

The SV-51 [one of the first Yamato valk. over 20.000 yen] was packed full of accessories [display stand, all sorts of missiles, boosters etc] and the biggest, at the time, transformable fighter.

The trend continued with the YF-21 and hasn't since resumed. I still don't have a VF-11 [plan to get C though] so I can't know if the price is absurd or not.

YF-19 was a tad more expensive than I hoped for the measly gunpod accessory it came with, but at the time it was an engineering marvel getting rave reviews all over the place.

Furthermore, how can Bandai follow the trend when almost all their pricing is substantially lower? The base VF-25 model is big enough for it to feel a bargain at 12000 yen, the fast packs bundles are 15-16000 yen each [even then, lower and "meatier" than the VF-0] and the armoured fast pack is 18800 yen, rivaling the VF-22 in price but far surpassing it when it comes to accessories and all.

No offense to any, but sometimes fans are cheaper than they realize. Never before any major company I buy products from did a straight up repaint cost less than the original unless accessories were missing.

Just an FYI HLJ has preorders up for VF-11C and M&M 22s. Both slightly cheaper than previous releases.

That's the early bird price, their regular pricing is the same as Gamlin's VF-22S\VF-11B

Got three packages on the way...

One is from HLJ from their sale, includes tons of robot damashii figures and 2 super\strike packs for 1/60 valks. May arrive tomorrow.

Two more I'm expecting from an e-bay seller, human alliance skids and sideswipe [same seller, different auctions, same purchase time and he shipped them separately...]

What the hell did I miss in my VF-22 review? I reviewed the crap out of it.

Actually, if we're talking about the same review, you could review the figure on a flat surface instead of your legs\room with that other guy and you could actually show to the camera what you're unlocking\fiddling with instead of turning it towards yourself. Having a surface to balance it on would picture how the figure can stand instead of it hovering over your legs.

The actual text and pictures review was pretty good, though. I wouldn't have been so harsh in the paragraph above had you fairly accepted some constructive criticism on your review.

The exposed metal you speak of is the top of the display stand they're using. Since it looks "okay" next to that VF-19, it's probably the VF-100 or whatever model.

I'd say for approx. $250- to have them in a gift set box with some art work on it. We have not seen a giftset since the 80s!

Yeah, they're going to slap two $190 toys in a giftset and mark it in the $250 area.

I'm getting Max's for sure, I'm now glad I held off buying Gamlin's.

There have been v2's of Mazinger and other hero robots in the SOC line. Also, Bandai has redone some of their EVAs in the Soul SPEC line.

Yes, but those are part of their regular SOC and SOC SPEC lines, not the DX Chogokin. Frankly, the only other DX Chogokin I know of is Aquarion.

To my knowledge, bandai has not relased ver 2.0 of any of their DX Chogokins [Aquarion military mass production type was rumoured to be with stiffer joints].

Seeing as so far, "movie" Alto has minimal differences to tv ver alto, I don't expect that there will be major differences, if any, with Ozma either. After all, wasn't DYRL 1S Focker identical to TV version?

My money's on changing the colours and\or patterns of Luca and Michel, similar to how Max and Kakizaki were changed for their DYRL versions.

Heh, I stand corrected then. Did not like the end result as much as I like armoured ozma, sadly.

I got paint chips on my armored too... at the back of the left shoulder.

I finished my review of the Armored Ozma custom VF-25S:

Link

Let me know what you think

Very nice review, only way to top it off would be to "Dress up" Alto as well.

Now that we're talking about it again, how come nobody, NOBODY has done that? I mean, the armoured packs for Alto are web-exclusives so not everybody will get them, aren't you the least curious as to how the DX looks and handles with them on, even if parts are yellow instead of red?

So has anybody actually acquired the supposedly "fixed" repaints of the YF-19 and can comment on them, or are we going to babble on for pages about bayformers and how a headless VF-22 resembles them?

For such a small community with so little variations\releases of modern toys compared to other franchises, you people surely couldn't discuss less about the newest offerings.

Anyone have any pictures with the the Armoured VF-25 with an Armoured VF-1?

or any comparison pictures at all really...y'all make a lot of posts lol

Exactly...for two pages now it's like 'oh it's an oily substance...oh mine has it too...oh it's the HK ones that have oily substance...oh oily surfaces'.

Things people really want to see

a)Armoured up Alto, just to see how the upcoming armour is going to fit on him. Like, NOBODY is curious?

b)Pictures of VF-25S in fighter mode, attempted transformation with the elongated neck part. Best possible transformation scenario with the part.

c)Comparisons with other armoured VFs

I seriously doubt devoting 5 minutes to dress up another valk in the armour or 2 minutes for a fighter mode transformation are going to hurt anybody. Do it for the community, people.

Now that I know I won't be attempting to get Ozma, can we get any pics of the armour on Alto's DX? Just to see what the upcoming product is going to look like, at least form-wise?

Just for the heck of it, the armour on Michel's wouldn't be a bad idea to showcase as well. Be creative, people!