Chronocidal

I'm tempted to buy the kit just to get a spare VF-1D head to put on my VT-1 for fun.

Hah, I just realized, everyone seems to have noticed the anchor cable, but can anyone tell for sure if that second figure is Micro-Klan? Or are they adding another copy of the figure they made for Ranka, and calling it Sheryl this time? Was hoping for a mini Klan, but sadly, that doesn't look like the right helmet for her, since I thought she was wearing Michael's gear in the last episode. Also, the anchor cable is giving me funny ideas of how the VF-25G should be displayed... if I knew the joints would hold him up, I'd mount him standing on the wall of a display cabinet, supported by the cable. Or maybe to save on joint stress, just have him prone, mounted upside down on the ceiling above my desk? You can definitely have a lot of fun with this one in the pose department.

They obviously aren't the final colors at least, since it's just a materials test. But yeah.. after all the nonsense with Ozma's paint scheme, and how many parts were entirely painted over because they weren't molded in color, I'm not expecting this to go well. I think this'll be one VF-25 I completely skip getting packs for. I don't feel like disassembling and repainting the undersides of the wing gloves every time I attach or remove the packs. With Ozma, at least you still have gray plastic underneath, but if you scratch those wing gloves, you'll be left with a nice set of fresh blue stripes across your white paint. It's just sad, because it shows a complete lack of thought from Bandai about the issue, and it's even a step backwards from the first version. The original had the wing gloves molded in color. Not only are they relying on their historically lousy paint quality, but they're actually failing at one of the few things they got right the first time around.

Well, my problem with the VF-19 boosters is that they look like someone strapped a pair of jetskis on the shoulders. They just look bizarre to me. If it weren't for the intakes on them, they'd be a lot less odd looking. I don't think the VF-19 ever really got a good set of boosters actually.. I mean, it wasn't supposed to need them to start with. And as fun as the VF-25 packs are on the wings, there's really no good usable place to mount those.

Stupid question... why paint the die-cast hips, but not the shoulders? Anyhow, looks good, but I'm hoping and praying those aren't the final mold colors.. those idiots, and their painting over entire pieces instead of molding them in color...

Possibly, though the shoulders are entirely wrong unfortunately. People would want to put the packs on the S/F, and they don't have the attachment points. Personally though, I really just can't stand the VF-19 fast packs, so, I'm not going to be in any rush to figure out how to add them on.

That's why we need more kit versions, to help Yamato save on labor costs. Anyway though, it's definitely more than just labor cost. The complexity and quality of the engineering on these newer valks is definitely taking its toll as well.

Well, maybe I should rephrase what I mean.. Are they different enough to look ugly and clash color-wise, or would it take someone going frame-by-frame in the anime to actually notice the differences? I really don't care about it being canon one way or the other, I just want the parts to stay on.

Huh, I actually had forgotten about the brown feet on the TV CF version, mine's packed away at the moment. Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure all the pieces that are normally dark gray were molded in dark brown for that one. This one is the main reason I'm sad that we can't get more strike packs released, though. I've got one set for each skull squad member, but I can't equip the CF with a set like that hangar scene in the movie. Actually, I'm mildly surprised we didn't see all three 30th anniversary DYRL releases as strike bundles... I don't think any of those three particular valks were ever shown without the packs during the movie (not counting the ones stowed in the hangars), unless Roy jettisoned his packs at some point.

(link's above, got post-sniped ) It's one of the 30th anniversary releases, though seems like it might turn out to be difficult to get now. I decided to preorder one, and just picked it up from FedEx this week, but now HLJ shows them as discontinued (though we know how they love to slap "discontinued" on things that are out of stock ) It's just your standard DYRL-style cannon fodder. Same as the previous CF release, but molded in off-white (with matching paint), with DYRL-style head, spare hands and pilot. Comes with the side covers molded in brown, and the external seat mount.

Ugh.. I like the battroid, especially the way they made the feet, even if it isn't canon... but that fighter mode is a mess. I don't know why they pushed the intakes back so far, and it unbalances the entire design that way. At first I figured it was for transformation purposes, but it doesn't look like it actually transforms, just that the parts can be built into either mode.

This may be a dumb and/or obvious question.. but is there any external difference between the hip armor included with the super packs and the one for the armor packs? They don't look any different detail-wise, but are they a different color? Since I don't have enough VF-25s to display everything at once, I have to pick and choose which pack sets I use. If the colors match well enough, I'll just use the improved hip parts from the armor with the super packs, and be done with the ones from the super pack sets.

Actually, I'm not entirely sure about the VF-17T. I still want one, but there's a bit of work to be done redesigning the nose section. The head will be really easy to replace by comparison. Now, that's not to say that there isn't already room in that cockpit area for two figures. They might be able to pull off some VF-1D style rearrangement of things, and wedge two seats into the existing cockpit area. But either way, the canopy and cockpit need to be changed a bit. Given the way the VF-17 is made, they might be able to get away with changing only a few parts, and not having to change the transformation at all. It'll need a new cockpit section and a new nosecone most likely. Whether it'd also need a new chest section with a lengthened center to cover the larger cockpit, I don't know, but it looks likely. I need to watch scenes of the VF-17T again though... I almost thought it used a VF-171 style nosecone fold, because of the longer nose.

Exactly. People have been going off of what Graham said some time ago, about them not currently considering reissues. Doesn't mean they still aren't considering it.. but this was around the time the DYRL anniversary releases came out. I don't know how well those have sold in general, since many people probably wouldn't want to double dip just to get sidecovers and a seat for something they already have. Not selling well might mean they just don't see the benefit in another production run of packs. VF-1 (re-)releases have been fairly non-stop, but the last packs to come out were only in bundles, and I'm not sure those actually sold that well, because I bought my Max and Kakizaki VF-1A DYRL bundles on heavy discount when HLJ had a sale, and I think the VF-1S TV bundle was similarly discounted. Personally though, I'm actually still hoping that we'll see a new strike pack release, with an expanded marking sheet. The fact that they went to the trouble to release a DYRL CF makes me wonder if they're revising the stickers to include the other squadron markings you see in DYRL. I'd think it's completely possible that they intended to re-release the packs, but realized last minute that the markings for the DYRL CF aren't on the standard pack sticker sheet, and decided to pull the announcement until they make up new marking sets for them. Granted, that was a while ago, but I like to imagine the time has been spent designing a bigger sheet containing several new sets of squadron roundels for the boosters.

Unless I'm mistaken, this is running similar to Bandai's super and armor pack add-ons for the VF-25 renewals (though in that case, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see bundles with the parts included later, because Bandai just loves screwing with their customer base that way.). Far as I can tell, if you order one? They'll make it. They sound like they're only making these on an order-by-order basis, or at least using the orders to determine a minimum number to produce (for now). Now's the time to grab one really, otherwise, you'll be at the mercy of collectors shops who put in orders for as many as they can get, and then jack the price sky high once production ends. It's really tough to tell though if more will be made. Gamlin's VF-22 was supposed to be limited as well, but wound up in shops at half price later on. I don't think that will happen here, because they didn't do this kind of pre-pre-order before. They seem to be entirely serious about making a very limited number, similar to the original low-vis 1/48. They might even be numbered, but who knows. We also could be worried about nothing, and when they see how many people bought these, they realize they'd be dumb not to issue a wider release, now that the R&D costs are past. If that happens, I'd love to get a proper FB2012 version too.

Personally, I like the color of the DYRL packs better, and I've got all the TV packs I could ever need. Plus, you know, the strike cannon is fun. I can understand why people are reluctant to let them go at this point, it's just driving the collector's value far higher than the parts themselves could ever approach in terms of price. But, such is the life of collectors. I remember when bootlegs of the old Bandai 1/65 VF-19 were going for hundreds of dollars too. Really, at this point, it boils down to Yamato just not wanting to make any more, which I find very hard to swallow. WIth all the DYRL re-releases recently, you'd think people would be flooding their inboxes with requests for strike packs. Makes me wonder if something happened to the original molds, or if they had to close down the production line that produced them. Seems weird that that would happen, and leave the VF-1 lines churning out new releases without a problem, but who knows. If they're going to just ignore demand for them, I wouldn't think it'll be long before people start making their own, given how easy that's gotten recently.

We're not even done with 7 yet. I still think there's a lot of mold milking that could be done with the VF-19, if they just start digging through the Master File. I would easily buy 3 or 4 more VF-19s if they came out with a white/low-vis or kit version of it. I'm also still hoping for the rest of Sound Force, no matter how unlikely it is. A VF-17T shouldn't be that significant a change that they can't pull it off I think, and honestly, I really want that orange/white New Edwards scheme on one, much more than Ray's green thing. But if it convinces them to make a MAXL to complete the set, I'm all for it. Besides that, you've still got the alternate paint on Millia's vintage 1J, her red VF-17S. and the M&M VF-11s to do. (Plus, you know, Pink Peckers.) After that's done though.. I really don't want anything else until they update the YF-19. I know some folks are happy with theirs now, but I think it just looks so far behind the rest of the Macross Plus stuff that it's painful. Comparing it to the new VF-19s especially makes me want a new one. Plus, I'd love to see some actual alternate schemes, instead of paint-swap jobs. A new YF-19 in orange or blue Supernova markings would be amazing. After those.. the sky's the limit I guess. I can't say I'd buy anything past that, because that's pretty much the extent of what I'm hoping to see (barring a VF-19 Nothung ) Guess I wouldn't mind seeing a VF-14 done, but only if it's the SR-71 styled one, not the funky diamond-headed thing from M3.

That's just it, the fast packs weren't that expensive. I'm pretty sure I picked up a set for about $30 once, back when Yamato was still churning them out. Aside from that one TV style set though, all the packs I've got came in bundles. Yamato needs to release them again badly, especially since they re-released the DYRL valks again. I picked up a DYRL cannon fodder, and I'm itching to customize some packs for it to match the movie.

Honestly, I'm not that concerned if I get it or not.. well, not concerned enough to shell out more than I already would if BBTS finally gets me one. The preorder I've got with them is going to come to about $270 shipped, and NY is already above that before shipping. I just don't feel like it's worth that much to me. I really don't care for any of the available colors on that plane, so I'm probably going to wind up sticking with the 1/100 kits. I REALLY wish Bandai would get off their backsides and release 1/72 kits of the rest of the MacF valks.

Fortunately, I don't think those adapters are actually that tough to mount somewhere else. I've heard of people using Bandai's action bases, like the ones used for the VF-25 kits, to hold up some Yamato valks. Nothing bigger than a VF-1 I think, but you might be able to support a VF-11 with one.

The fun part of this is that I STILL have a "preorder" with BBTS for the re-release of the YF-29... you know.. the one that was supposed to come in May. They keep slipping the release date month by month, and it's up to August now.

I dunno about anyone else, but I'm seriously considering scouting out places to drill strategically placed holes in my various valks, and rig up some decent stands using metal armatures. I would just drill out the centers of the engines/feet, but those aren't the sturdiest things to mount them on due to their flexibility. I just really abhor having to use some additional bracket to mount a plane on a display stand. I am hoping that these will use the YF-21/SV-51 stands though. They might have to, due to the leg length, and that is what the display model was using. Plus.. I mean, those are they only Yamato stands I have.

Bandai only includes a stand because they know their joints won't support a valk that's actually on display. Value maybe, but they still have a long way to go to reach the quality of engineering in the VF-19.' Also, as far as shipping costs went, I did save on shipping for two, even with EMS. Total came to about $783 for both shipped. What's actually hitting me though is that I generally don't include shipping in my thinking.. now that I think about it, this is about the same price as the Super VF-17D set, and I already preordered that.. this is pretty much the same thing.

You know what.. August is one of those rare months where I get three paychecks. I'm springing for two. And yes, I'm a valkaholic.

Also, what helps me.. I look at it in terms of how much I could be paying for cable or satellite tv. Since I started relying on the internet for my entertainment (intertainment if you will), I find it a lot easier to justify over-the-top purchases for other things in general. Of course, you might also have to weigh these sorts of things against having very little social life to speak of, and whether the money might be better spent on something that might conceivably somehow contribute to the pursuit of the opposite gender. And no, I don't mean flying to Japan to search for that rare female Macross fan who would share your enthusiasm for all things valkyrie related.