eggy99

The scary thing about that PO is you're committing without knowing how much the store will charge as they can put it up for whatever the current market value, and if you pull out, then they get a free $15 USD out of you.

The down side to EMS returning (as well as the crazy surcharge) is that HLJ will reinstate the 60 day holding limit on Private Warehouse - along with all the other package forwarding services that are currently offering unlimited storage of packages until non courier shipping options are available again.

HLJ have now deleted their page link from MFC website. https://myfigurecollection.net/item/1184685

Don't forget about Plaza Japan. They'll likely put it up in about 8-10 hours Hopefully this search link will help keep F5ing this link for Plaza Japan. https://www.plazajapan.com/search-results/?q=chogokin vf-1j

No one even considering CDJ? It's not one of my top options any more, after they've changed the way they handle pre orders, and their DHL/FedEx shipping rates are crazy high. I probably won't use them until EMS comes back into effect again.

Got a scare because after HLJ order placement, I was presented with a "your shopping cart is empty" page, but received the HLJ confirmation email, and also now in my order history. Phew! So surprised HLJ is selling with JP sale tax on top. It's a kick in the guts for us Aussies, as it's another 10% import tax on top of ¥33,000 for a total of ¥36,300.

HLJ got one!

Hobby Search is now closed too

yep error 502

Hobby Search Link: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10779941

The link is pending. HLJ have not activated the page for the public yet. https://myfigurecollection.net/item/1184685

HLJ posted it themselves on My Figure Collection website.

HLJ link (pending) https://www.hlj.com/dx-chogokin-vf-1j-armored-valkyrie-hikaru-ichijo-bans61451

You’d hope Bandai would release DYRL version with yellow tipped missiles and DYRL hands, and darker bluer grey parts to milk the mold.

The full bundle photo shows the inclusion of 2 pilot figures! It looks like space and atmospheric version. The list of items doesn’t mention 2 pilot figures though. Both white goggle head also included.

I recall this feature being highlighted for the upcoming 1D, but can the previous DX releases do that with the head? I could see this as a gimmick for the 1J GBP release owners can mimic the scene from the episode of Hikaru boarding it in the hanger.

My 1J is still in box, with my 1S still awaiting my full transformation inspection, but looking at the head, it doesn't look easily removable like the v2 Yamato/Arcadia VF-1 toys, so I'm hesitant to think Bandai will include a swappable head. I also wouldn't think a swappable visor would be an option either, as we would have discovered that feature when the 1J was 1st released and all HEAVILY speculated on the reasoning for it being removable. As Noel, pointed out in the photos, the grey goggles look exactly the same size as the white goggles, so it's not a cover either. Any kind of cover with enough durability would be quite thick and look out of place. My feeling is it will be a completely stand alone VF-1J with grey goggles bundled with the GBP. There is a chance they will announce the GBP stand alone package later, in the same vein as when they announced the VF-1J initially and then announced the missile set a week or 2 later with a 1 month gap between each release.

It's gonna be pricey! I'm questioning if I'll actually be able to afford it if it is a complete bundle. If it's offered as only the GBP, I'll probably skip since I don't have a 2nd VF-1J to put it on.

My Focker from Amazon JP shipped via Rakuten Global Express via sea mail finally arrived. 64 days. Perfect paint apps and almost perfect decals. Just 1 of the nose cone decals (the point at the end of the black strip) is misaligned like many others have noted. Still have to do a transformation test to ensure no faults. Still wish I was able to get a 2nd Focker to display 1 in battroid and 1 in fighter with Supers. Oh well. Just have to hope Bandai release a TV 1S Hikaru with Supers pack. Only 4 months until 1D Trainer!

My grand summer plan was to use this warm weather to panel and weather my DX 1J and 1A, but got side tracked by other things and now it’s already autumn so the running out of time to use those Mr Hobby flat coat sprays etc for the finishing the work. Looking forward to seeing the finished works from you guys.

Yes the fan HD remaster of Robotech did happen using the Japanese Blu-rays as the source video, the original stereo TV mixes for the audio and completely remade English Opening and Closing credits using the textless Japanese Opening and Closing. I managed to locate it maybe 4 years ago and it’s amazing to see the original Robotech with all the original Japanese sound effects still intact as opposed to the latest version releases where Harmony Gold replaced all the sound effects with generic ones. The only pro to the newest releases is that they are uncut and contain as much of the Japanese Macross footage as possible, but for me the original cut is the best due to the sound effects playing a major part of the nostalgia for me when I watched it on morning TV in the 80’s. Unfortunately since it is copyrighted material I cannot share how to obtain it. I suggest Google and Reddit as your best for tracking it down.

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/guide/help/ordering/how_to_cancel_your_order

Love that Justice is getting the MB treatment finally. I will consider it if the local distributor solicits it to my work and we pick it up. With my limited resources lately I've had to choose between Macross and Gundam, and Macross is my focus for now. I have a Freedom Concept sitting in the box still, but considering letting it go, because I already have the original Freedom MB release, and feel it's still a great figure. Happy to see Dynames, but would have rather the GN Full Shield original version. It's an easy pass from it even if I was focusing on Gundam. MB Hi-Nu will be pretty nice. Let's hope for more UC MB, cuz I'd love to see Ground Gundam, EZ-8 and Zephyranthes (& FB). If they did MRD EZ-8 or Zephyranthes then that would be a suitable compromise for me.

I will now have 3 ALWAYS open tabs for Macross World Forums on my phone now. BTW, they are: Unread Content, Bandai DX Chogokin 1/48 VF-1, and now this thread. 1 thing that I'm not happy about with the DX release is we'll only get 1 Hikaru pilot, so you can't display both VF-1D and the Fan Racer with Hikaru in it. They should have included 2 Hikaru pilots. 1 with his iconic flight helmet + orange flight suit and the 1 with the pale yellow headset + orange flight suit. I'll definitely be displaying my 1D in gerwalk, so I'll have to display my pilotless fan racer hanging upside down from cables with "curtains" decorating it. Add in some tiny cuts into it too. . Needs a giant tuna head too.

I love the mix of sales and general posts in this thread. It the only thread I have open all the time on my phone, and I check it daily, so I love seeing all the creative posts (photos, and photoshops), and the sales posts so I can keep up to date with current pricing. There is the Where to Buy Macross, Auctions & Dealers Specials section that can be used to post a HOW TO PURCHASE TWE, or best retailers for DX purchases. It would be helpful to have dedicated threads for each DX Valkyrie during the PO week/release date week, where only posts related to retailers opening their POs are posted, and a master post that tracks all the retailers who have opened their PO (and the time it opened in JST) / exhausted their PO + the PO opening price. The posts where we've tracked this information in the past has been super helpful as a resource for planning your PO attack for the next upcoming DX PO. The general DX VF-1 thread, along with the photos, photoshops, general discussion of the line, would be a good place to hold everyone's excited "GOT MY PO IN WITH XXX RETAILER" posts, cuz seeing those posts is still very exciting for everyone here, as well as sharing our condolences for those of us who miss out (peer therapy - haha).