regult

I know I am barking at the moon, but this kit needs landing gears.

the painted sample reminds me why I never liked the Basara valk.

Tradition dictates that all VF-17 family variants must wait for at least a decade before they're released in toy form, meanwhile the hero valks (like VF-1) get to reincarnate 1000 times.

...and look! it's NOT a VF-25...bummer!

On the other hand, the VF-25 is less remote as discussed in the YF-29 thread (quoting an interview with Bandai personnel). I am not holding my breath, but it's apparently less impossible now to own a transformable VF-25 that does not look like a soap nor a 3D puzzle.

I also remember how some of us jumped in to defend the imaginary sturdiness of the flawed design. Granted, at the time it was impossible to tell that thing would quickly become a floppy unposeable mess (but it was equally impossible to defend it's indestructibility!). Anyway, that's all water under the bridge anyway, and I don't know how many would not want to see a second version of the DX VF-25.

By the way G-man, how are you planning to get the book? I was considering ordering through animate...but maybe there are better options?

The prototype(s) YF-29 shown bear all the traits one would have expected from the original DX VF-25 release, I remember how disappointed I became when prototypes of that thing first appeared! I hate to have to wait for a "possibly-maybe" revised version, hope it happens within this decade!

great! even more stuff, probably web-shop exclusive at 15K Yen, and once you clip it on (after a thousand attempts), the battroid backplate starts cracking on you! yay!!

When you guys say the VF-25 and YF-29 share the same legs, you mean the DX toy or the "actual" Valk in-story? I am quite sure Bandai cannot have used the same crap legs of the DX VF-25 to achieve that gerwalk mode. But, as David points out) it sure does look like Kawamori (or whoever should be blamed for this design) tried to hide the DX leg to backplate fit issue with more stuff (AKA "nacelles") into the "actual" Valk, instead of getting things tighter on the DX. In theory it's achievable, as shown in the 1/72 kit (but you need to add tabs or glue it perpetually to make it stay because of non-ratcheted joints). I really wish the new toy could be stripped off all those extra stuff and reverted into a VF-25. Something tells me the wings are going to be a problem

so noisy: it's like a kit seeking attention.

The backplate sure looks heavy in gerwalk mode. It's like a gerwalk with another airplane on piggyback! Legs, from the looks of the feet, ankle, articulation and A-stance in gerwalk, should be completely new parts. If only they remade the VF-25...

If that is an out-of-the-box assembly, with some panel accent and decals, I am impressed. From pictures it seems there aren't many parts in the box, so I guess a basic build can be finished within minutes. I also think this is the wrong scale, they should have stuck to 1/72 for fighter-mode model kits instead of the gundam 1/100. I wish we had a decent 1/72 fighter-only VF-25 for that matter!.

Not really, I collect military vehicles and the variables are endless, sometimes the untrained eye may not notice them, but it's an insult to collectors when manufacturers slap a livery on the wrong variant. The VF-25 is a totally different story, since the changes are modular (head, radar) or add-ons (super pack, armored pack), and livery (white, gray, blue, green, red...), so yes, it relatively easy to make variants, but not as easy as just repaints.

Answering the first part, it does look like Bandai only scaled down the DX, even kept features for transformation like the recess under the cockpit on the VF100 (which is completely useless on the smaller version since that is a replaceable part, same with the placement of the leg, since it's a plug and play articulation, there was no technical limitation to place it lower in the battroid mode). Proportions and placement of legs in battroid are exactly the same in both: too high up. It really looks like they took the DX, scaled it down, took away most of the transformation and screwed up the VF100 line. I don't think Bandai wants to do that again with Hi-metal. Off topic maybe, but I can't help wondering what's with the obsession of naming almost all-plastic toys "metal"? "Hi-metal"? is that what the collector says when he sees a metal joint in a 99% plastic toy? same happens with the "Chogokin" branding, which means "super metal alloy" when the VF is plastic except some parts like the shoulder and the shameful landing gears. Disclaimer: I don't really care if my models are heavy, I probably care more if they can sustain transformation and still look as good as possible on the shelf.

Now that you ask that question, it's a bit scary how quiet it has been...But I guess releases will only slow down until new Macross content comes up (ie. the 2nd Frontier movie), so it's not that the toy line is failing, it's the overall state of Japanese economy and mecha demographics dwindling.

That's not my intention at all. I'd probably rephrase the sentence like this: "Since I don't expect Bandai to give the DX VF-25 another shot (they sold so well), let's see what will happen one day when another guy gets the license (and we all know who's that other guy anyhow)." I honestly don't think Bandai will give the VF-25 a Hi-metal treatment any time soon either (where's that YF-21?) so I'd say this whole discussion is mostly wishful thinking, therefore my own personal wishful thinking.

I personally would prefer a 1/60 Ver 2.0 but if the price tag on a "VF-100's Ver 2.0" were reasonable and transformation, proportions and overall look and feel were better than both the old VF-100 and DX, then I'd probably pick some up. But if wishes are what we're talking about here, then I'd still like to see Yamato's versions of the Frontier valks.

I did use Mr. Mark Setter on Bandai decals before and it does help soften decals as well as fixing them to the surface (unpainted plastic). I apply a small amount of the liquid on the model before applying the decal and if needed (say on the vernier) I apply some pressure with a cotton swab. Problem is sometimes wrinkles develp and I am affraid it will dry like that, so I flatten the decal until it comforms, Mr. Mark Setter does not dissolve Bandai decals, it only softens them and "glues" them better. When completely dry the decals do grab on the surface very well, but if you tranform the model, you still rub some flakes off. I just don't know if all the flattening with a cotton swab is really necessary. I don't think I will use softener because the setter makes the bandai decals comform quite well.

I am sure I asked this question before but cannot find the old thread. I would like to make sure I am doing things right: When I apply decals with Mr. Mark Setter, the solution softens the film and some wrinkles appear, should I try to flaten the decal with a cotton swab or just leave it alone and it will all magically conform when dry? I remember last time I used it I had quite a hard time trying to keep the decals flat on the model after using Mr. Mark Setter, and I think I heard somewhere it was all unnecessary. I also read somewhere that Bandai decals don't really need any of this, but frankly speaking, there are these verniers on my VF-25 right under a decal and I cannot imagine how it will look without some of the solution to soften and stick the decal.

I actually prefer the standard (cannon) colors. Saw the silver one somewhere in Hong Kong not long ago, so it's not completely impossible to find.

Thanks, that finally answers my question. Yeah, I know a thing or two about Ver. KA.

Hi everybody, sorry to interrupt. With around 3 gunpla built under my belt I cannot consider myself a serious fan, but anyway, Gundam UC got my attention as of late, and browsing the shops looking at the countless gunpla boxes I realized there is one terminology I cannot understand and could not find the definition of: "Real Type Color" Of course I know exactly what the three words mean, but don't know the story behind, and if this is related to an alternate look for the Mobile Suits in-universe or is it only some alternative livery for the Gunpla, a la "Version KA" (or am I wrong?). Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share his/her knowledge.

SDF-1 is getting so many votes over at Collection DX that I am starting to think I am silly for sticking to the "no capital ships" principle EDIT: Oh! that "The First" scan is so full of pretty Regults!! I wish Yamato would make a toy of of the 1/60 kit set...and price it a bit more lighter on the pocket. That's just me thinking loud.

Would you want to get rid of it? I've been tempted like Graham at one point, but last time I checked locally and in Tokyo, the price was going off the roof.