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Firefox

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    1/48 VF-19B

    in The Workshop!

    Posted

    Kit Background

    I used  the Hasegawa YF-19 as a base and VF-19 Master File as reference to modify it to a proper two seater. Unfortunately, the kit doesn't come with two pilot figures. Hence the empty second seat.

    Aircraft Background

    This aircraft belongs to one of the special unit that involves in clandestine operations. There is no visible squadron markings and not much background information regarding the aircraft or its pilots. Their operation records will be sealed for hundred of years.

     

    vf-19b-1.jpg

    vf-19b-2.jpg

    vf-19b-3.jpg

    vf-19b-4.jpg

    vf-19b-5.jpg

    Hi-Metal R

    in Toys

    Posted · Edited by Firefox

    Hlj seems to have the cheapest EMS shipping for most time. Unfortunately Hlj doesn't seem to have enough hot items for sale. Hardly able to get anything from there now

    TRAN5FORMERS: The Last Knight

    in Anime or Science Fiction

    Posted

    This one seems to suffer some budget cut. Most of them didn't actually showed transforming, except for Megatron. Otherwise, when they were about to transform, the camera cut away. If you slow down the clip where Nitro Zeus transformed into Gripen, the jet parts just pop up put of nowhere. The overall design of the transformers seem to make CG easier to create and render rather than realistic and believable. 

    It would be really great if some can reboot the whole franchise using the G1 like design. 

    Aircraft Super Thread Mk.VII

    in Anime or Science Fiction

    Posted

    On 15/06/2017 at 10:44 AM, Shadow said:

    Speaking of Fulcrums. Has anyone seen a single seat version of the Mig-35? All shots I've seen is of the two-seater.

    The single seater is essentially the same as the two seater but with the second seat replaced by the fuel tank. Thus, they all look like two seater. 

    Whats next for Arcadia?

    in Toys

    Posted

    On 16/04/2017 at 11:21 AM, ArchieNov said:

    Wow. No offense, but I'm honestly surprised to see some people actually justifying Arcadia's pricing on this. Like seti88 said, I don't think using a comparison with the current aftermarket prices is a logical thing to do. Arcadia already has the molds, materials, and existing factories to produce these things. It's not like they're digging up long lost artifacts from the buried remains of Yamato or scouring the farthest reaches of Earth to gather rare materials to make them. There is no reason for them to be charging a much higher price for it.

    Take for example the VF-4g reissue. The aftermarket prices for that thing were much higher than retail, but when it was reissued, it was almost exactly the same price as before after factoring in inflation. In fact, when most (in my experience) other toy companies reissue stuff, they're mostly very close to the original retail price and ignore aftermarket prices. Look at all the PVC scale statues for example. I have some of them that had gone up to 6x their retail price on the aftermarket. But when they were reissued 5 years later, the price was not far off from the original retail.

    Or look at it another way. What if LEGO decides to reissue the UCS Millennium Falcon for $3.5k? Would you think that's a "fair" price since the current aftermarket prices for it are $5k or more? Let's even say the reissue will have all printed (tampoed) bricks instead of stickers too.

    And please stop using the "Arcadia is a small company and they'll die if they don't price them this high" excuse. I've seen smaller companies make high quality products with lower prices.

    Now if you have no problem paying these prices, more power to you. But I would like you to at least acknowledge that while you're buying this product, that it really is overpriced for what you are getting.

    Very well said. 

    Licensing cost money but I believe there's other factors. I read from other thread in this forum that Arcadia has a lot of wastage during production, around 60 to 78% wastage. Perhaps that is the reason for the high price. 

    I have not seen any toys reissue having such a price hike. Yes, there's inflation and increase in production cost. But one of the most expensive cost, the initial mold making cost is not there anymore. Thus it should balance off the other increase in cost. 

    Anyway, if one is Arcadia's fan and willing to pay the price, that's fine. It's his/her money. 

     

    Toy Manufacturing

    in Toys

    Posted

    I'm appalled by the waste Arcadia made. Perhaps this is the reason they put up such a high price?

    I think they really needs to work on the QC process. Passing on wastage cost to customers is not the way for long run. China makes most if not all toys. Thus, if the particular manufacturer can't reduce the waste, shouldn't Arcadia get another one?

    Hopefully Arcadia can reduce the waste and then reduce the price. 

    Is it worth it anymore?

    in Toys

    Posted

    Looks like MW forum is having a class war. I can feel for those who are being forced out by the pricing. I've been a Marcos's fan since the 80. When the news of 1/48 VF-1 comes out, all the fans were thrilling and drooling. And more importantly it was not that expensive and hard to get one. There wasn't any crazy pricing and crazy hours for pre-ordering. Everyone gets their pie then. The good old days. 

     

    Some where along toward the demise of Yamato and step in from Arcadia, the pricing starts to go crazy, go way beyond 20000 yen a piece. While no one know the actual reason of the exponential price hike, there is always ones who thinks the hike is the result of those who keep paying regardless the price, just like Sydney properties market, if you live in Australia. There's also a sense of betrayal as they are part of those who supported Yamato's humble beginning in Macross journey only to be kept out of reach now. 

     

    Luckily, Bandai steps in to fill the gap (15000 to 25000 yen). The only problem is it hard to get and that pushes the price up. For the quality and engineering efforts required by the toys, I don't think it is possible to go below 15000 yen but I don't think it worth more than 25000 yen either. 

     

    For those who still think it is too expensive, there is or will be bootleg. I haven't actually seen one. I have a bootleg Ramjet and a Thrust masterpiece. The bootleg uses slightly more elastic type of plastic in those masterpieces, but it actually enhances the playability and durability. They cost half the price of the original . So, who knows, if the VF-1 bootleg follows the same route, it could be good for those who have limited disposable income. 

     

    As a Macross fan, I hope anyone that loves Macross can have at least one of their favorite toy regardless of their income.

     

    Happy collecting! 

    Whats next for Arcadia?

    in Toys

    Posted

    With the current low entry point of 3D scanning and printing, plus the high prices of the Arcadia's products, it just a matter of time bootlegs show up. I'm sure their quality won't be as good. 

    But if the bootlegs can achive 80% or more of Arcadia's quality with half the price, I can't see why the collectors with average income that was shunned by Arcadia's pricing, won't buy the bootlegs.

    Not sure why Arcadia price the way the price now. If it's licensing issue, I hope BW don't get too greedy and kill off another company that is willing to make great Macross toys.

    Bandai Sv-262 DX valk

    in Toys

    Posted

    The clear canopy is not as clear as their own model kit. I wonder if it's cost cutting or they want to put more elasticity in it, knowing toy will be handled rougher than model. The clear canopy from the model kit is harder than the toy.

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