Chronocidal

At this point, I've 3D-Tetris'd the heck out of all my boxes. It's fun finding the size ratios between the Bandai and Yamarcadias to see how many of each it takes to make an even stack.

Do you pack them away by flattening them, or just stacking them in bins? I think at one point I used the VF-1 super pack bundle boxes to store several layers of plastic trays combined, and then folded the empty boxes flat to save space.

Yeah, there's a reason I've never touched any of the sticker sheets on any Yamato or Arcadia release... with one very specific exception. When I was looking for a Max VF-1S, I found a cheap copy of Max's VF-1A, and a broken Roy, and kitbashed them into a Max 1S. I used the sticker for the head arrows to make Roy's arrows blue. I'm still really looking forward to the PF Arcadia YF-19, though also internally cringing at having to disassemble the wings to replace the wingsweep arms with my redesigned bracket (I still have a metal set from before Sculpteo stopped offering them). I would really love to see them do a PF YF-21 to match it.. whenever it happens.

I've given up on Bandai ever completing anything at this point. I picked up some used 31 packs for cheap a while back so I had something to repaint in Chuck's and Arad's colors.

I actually don't believe this model has anything in common with the fire valk on display at the recent show. If you look closely at that one, it's much more similar to the YF-19 release, both in shape, and in markings, since it has tampo plastered all over it, including intake markings. I don't think either is a finished product, but that previous prototype actually looked more finished than the current one, which makes me think it was just a quick and dirty concept model built from a heavily modified YF-19. Also.. random thing to note.. that new Bandai display model still has the fat intake lip.

I mean, at least Bandai is using a stand mount location that makes a lick of sense.

I was thinking that rear slot couldn't possibly be for the gunpods since that would put them all the way back under the exhausts, then I remembered the panels have an extension under the back half of the plane. It's kind of hilarious to think that at that position, they might actually be de-stabilizers.

This right here is the part that baffles me. It's like Bandai is saying "To avoid possibly looking like we're stealing ideas from someone else, we're going to do our best to not imitate any of the things they got right about the design." There are some decent points there I can see, but the whole thing screams "We have no concept of what actually looks good."

Do they show anywhere that it mounts the gunpods to the belly, or did they just skip that? I'm kind of wishing that the whole mention of them still working on the licensing means Kawamori saw it and went "NOPE." Even with all of the other issues set aside, how do you put the tails that far forward and conclude it looks good?

Those two look pretty good, though I think I'd prefer buying instructions and making them with actual LEGO bricks. I don't want to mix and match my collection with official and unofficial bricks when they look that similar, but often don't fit together well.

It took a lot of superglue and careful sanding, but I was able to piece back together one of the sets of crumbled triangles and shoulders on one 171CF. I think what I had to do was remove the metal spring pins, and replace them with segments of insulated wire, and they work good as new. The one whose knee shattered became a stock of spare parts for all the others, so I'm pretty close to having three decent ones out of the four wrecks I picked up.

They could improve everything a ton by just stopping with the stupid "Some people don't like hardpoints" baloney. On the HMR, ok, they're pretty chunky, but the removable wing garbage was one of the stupidest features of the 171. I'd honestly just be happy if they re-released the existing mold with the wings permanently screwed on, missiles included in the box, and all of the crappy explodium plastic replaced with something sturdy. It's always that metallic garbage with the mold swirls in it.. If they could fix the janky hip swingbars while they're at it, I'd be thrilled, but I'm not counting on a re-design.

No, I think they took the cheap way out and only felt like modeling four, and instead of making the others, they included a launch tube.

And nine if you want to display all the modes! I... didn't get quite that many.. but the VF-19 is by far the largest portion of my collection behind the VF-1.

I do remember thinking when the VF-19S/F came out that Yamato should have re-released the YF-21 in that same shade.

It is a good point, but I also think that particular screenshot looks unnaturally dark, and I have to wonder whether the perception of the YF-21 being darker could be based on how dim the Manga DVD release was. I do think it looks better darker, though, and the color on the original 1/72 pretty much nailed it.

Does it come with a pack of buns for the hotdogs it's carrying under the wings?

Is that actually a pinned hinge, or something just snapped in? I remember some part of the leg around there being prone to pop out.

Have to second that, I just got my WWM release version, and while it might not be the tightest VF-25 I have, it looks like one of the best finished. The lack of plastic shine really makes it stand out, and I love the scheme. I'm also really hoping Bandai has just completely ditched the styrofoam packaging at this point, since both this and my Alto YF-29 re-release have been in normal clear plastic. It's so much easier to unpack them when you can skip the extra bag, and I have to guess they've done this to help prevent the foam from off-gassing and contributing to plastic yellowing.

I mean, yeah, to be fair, they're going to look chunky if they don't mold unique pieces for half the plane. XD

Seriously, why don't they just use their own work as a reference? That one looked better in all three modes than this one looks in either of the two we've seen. It even got the tails and cockpit shaped correctly, instead of redesigning them for... reasons?

As long as we're doing mad science, the GN-U DOU version.

We just need to cross-breed these two to get the Bandai legs, and Yamato arms..

What, and admit they got it wrong the first time?

HAH.. Please, no I never want to see those hinges again lol The different angles do look like the nose section has a slightly different shape though, now that you can see more of it. I actually would love someone to get a lower angle to get a proper planform, since it looks like the LEX might not go as far forward as I first thought. The shine on the spine does make me think it's tapered differently. The canopy looks much flatter at the front to me, and the canards are lower than the YF-19 even had them. I can't see any visible mechanism for them either, but I'm pretty sure this one is a solid prototype, since there are a lot of seams missing in the fuselage. I'll be interested to see if they do another origami fold in the legs like the YF-19 had, or go with something simpler this time.