New Pics of Yamato VF-0S 1/60

[mpchi]

I find the front landing gear on the VF-0S is much easier to get out  compared to the 1/48 VF-1. On the VF-0S, you can pull on the plastic tow-bar to get the front landing gear out and not have to worry about it coming off like you do on the 1/48's tow-bar.

I admit that the VF-0S's rear landing gear is a little difficult to get out, but I can manage it without tools, as long as my fingernails are not trimmed all the way down. I do have fairly slim fingers though.

Graham

400296[/snapback]

Front is better. Its still somewhat tight, but tow bar is much stronger this time around and doesn't come off. No tools needed to get it out. The rear ones are tougher however. I have trouble especially with one of the legs. Its so tight that I made a dent on my nail tip try lifting it, and still failed. Needed a tiny screw driver instead.

[valentin]

Actually, for the rear landing gear, I find that wriggling it left to right as one lifts it out, works quite well. Since in my case, it's the hinged covers that hinders it.

[GutsAndCasca]

All I really care about, is that the toy looks beautiful. Now I need that 0A to go along with it, and someday my display case will be gorgeous. Once I get a display case, that is. Which will cost about a billion bucks with all the macross crap I've acquired in the past year...

Edited May 18, 2006 by GutsAndCasca

[mpchi]

All I really care about, is that the toy looks beautiful. Now I need that 0A to go along with it, and someday my display case will be gorgeous. Once I get a display case, that is. Which will cost about a billion bucks with all the macross crap I've acquired in the past year...

400394[/snapback]

Wonder if there will be a VF-0D. The 0A is almost a sure thing since its just minor changes on the head and paint job. As I rewatch the OVA, the 0D turns out pretty good looking too, and a bit different fome the 0S. Guess we have to wait patiently.

[Mechamaniac]

Got mine today, and happy to say, NO QC issues. AAaahhh.

I LOVE THIS BIRD!. It does sag just a wee bit in fighter mode, but it's not noticeable to me. The only thing I don't like about it is that the legs don't lock into the backpack in fighter mode as tightly as the VF-1. If you hold it by the calves in fighter mode, it's fine, but if you grab it about the intakes, the calves pop out of the backpack.

The magnetic fast packs are really cool too. Although, if you like to handle your valk by the calves (as I do) the fast packs tend to slide around a little.

Overall, it rocks!

[myk]

That was my only gripe as well...

[Graham]

Here's a few quick pics that I took this morning of my second VF-0S, while getting ready to go to work.

It has nice tight joints and no trouble holding whatever pose I put it into.

Clicky to enlarge.

I love this toy.

Graham

[eriku]

Mine came on Monday but I had no time to take it out until tonight. It's been a week of anticipation indeed! I'm happy to report that mine has no QC problems that I can see. It does have the loose right bicep, but it's not free-moving loose, just not really tight. I removed the pitot tube immediately after taking it for a test flight (and placing a few precision strikes on the cat!) since I don't trust myself with it.

My one major gripe is an echo of the previous few pages: the legs not locking into the backpack. The pegs fit so loosely into the holes that they might as well not even be there. It's nothing that ruins my enjoyment of this beauty, but it is strange that they wouldn't use the same mechanism as the 1/48.

Transforming it was pretty easy, although I somehow managed to pop the heat shield out of it's hinge (I thought I broke it!) and I had a bitch of a time getting those looooong head antennae through the hole. I do wish the backpack locked against the back a little tighter, but it's not like it falls down or anything.

Overall I mostly marvel at the VF-0, it is a wonderful toy and just overflowing with gorgeous detail. I'm not sure which I like better between the Zero and the 1/48, but there's no need to pick a favorite since they're both awesome toys.

[eriku]

Here's a few quick pics that I took this morning of my second VF-0S, while getting ready to go to work.

It has nice tight joints and no trouble holding whatever pose I put it into.

Clicky to enlarge.

I love this toy.

Graham

400491[/snapback]

Nice pics, Graham! That last shot is exactly the same pose mine is in right now. He's aiming at my Masterpiece Convoy.

[Graham]

The superior proportions of the VF-0S Battroid are actually starting to make me go off the 1/48 VF-1 a little.

The 1/48 VF-1's overly long nosecone and biceps in battroid mode seem even more noticable now.

Graham.

[Graham]

It does have the loose right bicep, but it's not free-moving loose, just not really tight.

400493[/snapback]

That's the best and most accurate description I've read so far regarding the VF-0S's swivel joints.

The way some of the people here have described the toy, you'd think it was a big floppy mess, that can't stand by itself or hold any sort of pose, which is simply not correct.

Graham

[eriku]

No kidding, before I got it I was almost afraid this thing was going to collapse into a heap in Battroid mode. On the contrary, it's solid and rigid. This is by far the most satisfying valk toy I've laid my hands on. Hell, I'm staying up later than usual tonight just to admire it and post comments here!

[Golden Arms]

I'm loving my zero again. I got my replacement backpack from HLJ and the broken backpanel has now been replaced. The backpack isn't that hard to remove from the body, You just remove the 2 backpack screws and pry the backpack apart and presto. I took some time to pu the new backpack on but it was worth the trouble.

[myk]

I didn't know that you could order parts for this thing. That's great news. How did you break yours, anyway?

[wolfx]

It does have the loose right bicep, but it's not free-moving loose, just not really tight.

400493[/snapback]

That's the best and most accurate description I've read so far regarding the VF-0S's swivel joints.

The way some of the people here have described the toy, you'd think it was a big floppy mess, that can't stand by itself or hold any sort of pose, which is simply not correct.

Graham

400499[/snapback]

You forget the possibility that you might've been one of the luckier ones. After all QC with yamato is a hit and miss. I have 2 VF-0s with varying degrees of looseness. One of them is a floppy wreck whereas the other one is loose but isn't so bad.

It can't do your 2nd picture pose as the bicep joint just falls under the weight of the gunpod. There's no way i could make it hold with one hand. I also can't make a semi-crouch like in your 1st picture either as the knees just swivel off under the battroid's weight at that angle. And in gerwalk mode, needless to say the knees gave way as well. This is just one of the VF-0s i have so i 'm leaving that in fighter mode. The other one is loose but still able to hold the poses you posted so i'm using that one for gerwalk and battroid.

So i don't think people here are exagerrating the floppiness. Just that some people are luckier than others.

[Hikuro]

Where'd you get yours from, Hikuro?

Just like a majority of the rest I got it at Twinmoons.

I've taken notice that the stubs off the chest armor do tend to pop off with slightly close to excessive force, but.....it's not a big deal at all, some toys are designed that with excessive force those pieces pop out rather then snap and ruin the toy completely.

Other then that, my VF-0S is doing just fine and dandy and I'm hoping that a VF-0A will be released in the next year or so....crossing my fingers.

[Golden Arms]

I didn't know that you could order parts for this thing.  That's great news.  How did you break yours, anyway?

400518[/snapback]

The first Transformation. There is a grey panel on the backpack that secures the off white flap with two plastic hinges. These hinges broke. There the only flaw I think that the Zero has beyond the loose joints everyone is complaining about. I wasn't paying too much attention to the instructions because the flap isn't meant to fold completely up or down when transformed. These hinges or fastners were sturdier in the 1/48's. HLJ has a parts department which you can order replacements from. They've saved my arse on several occasions now.

Edited May 19, 2006 by Golden Arms

[Graham]

The first Transformation.  There is a grey panel on the backpack that secures the off white flap with two plastic hinges.  These hinges broke. There the only flaw I think that the Zero has beyond the loose joints everyone is complaining about.  I wasn't paying too much attention to the instructions because the flap isn't meant to fold completely up or down when transformed.   

400525[/snapback]

So you tried to fold a part that isn't supposed to fold then

Graham

[myk]

HLJ has a parts department which you can order replacements from.  They've saved my arse on several occasions now.

Have they always had this parts department? I can remember replacement parts being an issue with everything from the 1/48 and back...

[BlueMax]

The first Transformation.  There is a grey panel on the backpack that secures the off white flap with two plastic hinges.  These hinges broke. There the only flaw I think that the Zero has beyond the loose joints everyone is complaining about.  I wasn't paying too much attention to the instructions because the flap isn't meant to fold completely up or down when transformed.   

Thats exactly what happened to me as well. And I've tried to actually disassemble the backpack assembly, but seems that everything's glued shut quite tightly.

[Golden Arms]

The first Transformation.  There is a grey panel on the backpack that secures the off white flap with two plastic hinges.  These hinges broke. There the only flaw I think that the Zero has beyond the loose joints everyone is complaining about.  I wasn't paying too much attention to the instructions because the flap isn't meant to fold completely up or down when transformed.    

400525[/snapback]

So you tried to fold a part that isn't supposed to fold then

Graham

400528[/snapback]

It's supposed to fold slightly (about 30 degrees I suppose) when in fighter mode. Thats how it tucks into place.

Blue Max-- You don't need to completely disassemble the backpack. You only need to slightly pry apart the end that connects to the back. I used my fingernails and a modelling knife for this.

[Mowe]

This is not a bad pose either, the trick is bent the hind and have them infront of the chest plate .

Love this toy, but I desperately need a fixed hand to hold the gun properly.

[BlueMax]

The first Transformation.  There is a grey panel on the backpack that secures the off white flap with two plastic hinges.  These hinges broke. There the only flaw I think that the Zero has beyond the loose joints everyone is complaining about.  I wasn't paying too much attention to the instructions because the flap isn't meant to fold completely up or down when transformed.    

400525[/snapback]

So you tried to fold a part that isn't supposed to fold then

Graham

400528[/snapback]

It's supposed to fold slightly (about 30 degrees I suppose) when in fighter mode. Thats how it tucks into place.

Blue Max-- You don't need to completely disassemble the backpack. You only need to slightly pry apart the end that connects to the back. I used my fingernails and a modelling knife for this.

400570[/snapback]

Hey, thanks for the tip, will try it later

[Mechamaniac]

Just transformed mine again at work, I honestly can't decide which mode I like more, Battroid or Fighter.

I have to go with fighter since you can get at more of the nifty small details easily. Come on Yamato , and give us the VF-0D.

[mpchi]

It does have the loose right bicep, but it's not free-moving loose, just not really tight.

400493[/snapback]

That's the best and most accurate description I've read so far regarding the VF-0S's swivel joints.

The way some of the people here have described the toy, you'd think it was a big floppy mess, that can't stand by itself or hold any sort of pose, which is simply not correct.

Graham

400499[/snapback]

You forget the possibility that you might've been one of the luckier ones. After all QC with yamato is a hit and miss. I have 2 VF-0s with varying degrees of looseness. One of them is a floppy wreck whereas the other one is loose but isn't so bad.

It can't do your 2nd picture pose as the bicep joint just falls under the weight of the gunpod. There's no way i could make it hold with one hand. I also can't make a semi-crouch like in your 1st picture either as the knees just swivel off under the battroid's weight at that angle. And in gerwalk mode, needless to say the knees gave way as well. This is just one of the VF-0s i have so i 'm leaving that in fighter mode. The other one is loose but still able to hold the poses you posted so i'm using that one for gerwalk and battroid.

So i don't think people here are exagerrating the floppiness. Just that some people are luckier than others.

400519[/snapback]

Agreed. I don't think people are exaggereating in general. All depends on your luck. While one of mine's arm and leg swivel fit the "looser but not too bad" description, the right arm and left leg swivels are bad enough that either the figure can collapse on the leg due to the weight in some pose, or can't held a decent single armed gun firing pose due to the weight of the gunpod. They are all fine now with the help of some dental floss.

Its not like people in general are saying the VF-0S is a piece of crap. In fact, its very cool. At least thats what I've heard from most posts. I have been staring at it at work constantly and poses it and transforms it every now and then in the past few days. Loving it, regardless the fixable loose swivels and a few fragile bits. But don't see why we need to get all defensive on Yamato's QC.

[Macross73]

just got mine today They are great !!

no problems to report.

[Graham]

The first Transformation.  There is a grey panel on the backpack that secures the off white flap with two plastic hinges.  These hinges broke. There the only flaw I think that the Zero has beyond the loose joints everyone is complaining about.  I wasn't paying too much attention to the instructions because the flap isn't meant to fold completely up or down when transformed.    These hinges or fastners were sturdier in the 1/48's.  HLJ has a parts department which you can order replacements from.  They've saved my arse on several occasions now.

400525[/snapback]

Goldern Arms,

Could you post a pic of the hinge you mention, as I'm really not sure what part you are talking about.

I took a look at the VF-0S backpack last night to figure it out, but could only find one hinge which looks pretty big and solid and not fragile looking at all.

Not doubting your word, I'm just honestly not sure what part you mean.

Graham

[UN Spacy]

I second that. I wanna make sure I don't mess with this hinge anymore than I need to.

[mpchi]

Just tried to add a tiny bit of super glue to thicken the leg pegs that tend to pop out from the backpack easy in fighter mode. Turned out pretty good. Now I can grip the fighter mode at the intake with no popping. Awesome! Nail polish should work just as well. Just make sure you don't put too much on the peg to make it fatter than it should. Otherwise, the peg would be either too big for the hole, or just too tight that you'll more likely snapping the tiny peg off the leg when pulling the leg peg out of the backpack. Put just a tiny bit and make sure it dries thoroughly before connecting the peg into the backpack hole. Give it a try.

[myk]

I also thought about tightening up those knee joints, although some of the Zero's limbs are glued together, right? I've noticed on my copy that the right knee/leg is the loose one that, when pressed, will pop the leg away from the backpack...

[Golden Arms]

The first Transformation.  There is a grey panel on the backpack that secures the off white flap with two plastic hinges.  These hinges broke. There the only flaw I think that the Zero has beyond the loose joints everyone is complaining about.  I wasn't paying too much attention to the instructions because the flap isn't meant to fold completely up or down when transformed.     These hinges or fastners were sturdier in the 1/48's.   HLJ has a parts department which you can order replacements from.  They've saved my arse on several occasions now.

400525[/snapback]

Goldern Arms,

Could you post a pic of the hinge you mention, as I'm really not sure what part you are talking about.

I took a look at the VF-0S backpack last night to figure it out, but could only find one hinge which looks pretty big and solid and not fragile looking at all.

Not doubting your word, I'm just honestly not sure what part you mean.

Graham

400700[/snapback]

The parts in question can be found on page 06 of the instruction manual. They are listed in illustrations 04 and 05. The hinges on the grey panel (shown in illustration 05-- near rightmost arrow) which secure the backpack flap broke on mine. They were compromised when I was following step 04. I was folding the flap back towards the backpack and I noticed the stress. The right hinge broke later. As Graham mentioned the flap doesn't need to fold all the way back to the backpack boosters. I guess I followed the pic too literally.

This entire area is the only place on the toy I would be concerned about in regards to longevity.

Sorry about the poor photo quality. I need to stop spending so much on toys and invest in a good camera.

Edited May 20, 2006 by Golden Arms

[Zeta Otaku]

The first Transformation.  There is a grey panel on the backpack that secures the off white flap with two plastic hinges.  These hinges broke. There the only flaw I think that the Zero has beyond the loose joints everyone is complaining about.  I wasn't paying too much attention to the instructions because the flap isn't meant to fold completely up or down when transformed.     These hinges or fastners were sturdier in the 1/48's.   HLJ has a parts department which you can order replacements from.  They've saved my arse on several occasions now.

400525[/snapback]

Goldern Arms,

Could you post a pic of the hinge you mention, as I'm really not sure what part you are talking about.

I took a look at the VF-0S backpack last night to figure it out, but could only find one hinge which looks pretty big and solid and not fragile looking at all.

Not doubting your word, I'm just honestly not sure what part you mean.

Graham

400700[/snapback]

The parts in question can be found on page 06 of the instruction manual. They are listed in illustrations 04 and 05. The hinges on the grey panel (shown in illustration 05-- near rightmost arrow) which secure the backpack flap broke on mine. They were compromised when I was following step 04. I was folding the flap back towards the backpack and I noticed the stress. The right hinge broke later. As Graham mentioned the flap doesn't need to fold all the way back to the backpack boosters. I guess I followed the pic too literally.

This entire area is the only place on the toy I would be concerned about in regards to longevity.

Sorry about the poor photo quality. I need to stop spending so much on toys and invest in a good camera.

400808[/snapback]

yeah... did the same thing with mine... thankfully I stopped when I thought "you know... I don't think this is supposed to bend like this..." so, now I have white stress marks on both hinges, and it's a bit loose... but it holds. would glueing the white panel than connects there hinder transformation at all?

[BlueMax]

The first Transformation.  There is a grey panel on the backpack that secures the off white flap with two plastic hinges.  These hinges broke. There the only flaw I think that the Zero has beyond the loose joints everyone is complaining about.  I wasn't paying too much attention to the instructions because the flap isn't meant to fold completely up or down when transformed.     These hinges or fastners were sturdier in the 1/48's.   HLJ has a parts department which you can order replacements from.  They've saved my arse on several occasions now.

400525[/snapback]

Goldern Arms,

Could you post a pic of the hinge you mention, as I'm really not sure what part you are talking about.

I took a look at the VF-0S backpack last night to figure it out, but could only find one hinge which looks pretty big and solid and not fragile looking at all.

Not doubting your word, I'm just honestly not sure what part you mean.

Graham

400700[/snapback]

Borrowing Kaiming's Pics

The grey hinges are really kinda prone to stress.

[GutsAndCasca]

So i don't think people here are exagerrating the floppiness. Just that some people are luckier than others.

400519[/snapback]

Exactly. My VF0S is straight-up floppy. He looks cool dangit! ....But if he got in a fight with one of my Vf1s 1/48's he'd get his ass kicked.

[Mowe]

Sorry to hear your broken hinge, I guess you missed my little warning on Post #1383 of this tread.

I was folding the flap back towards the backpack and I noticed the stress.  The right hinge broke later...

400808[/snapback]